Here's What To Do
Tell your child about the cultural group(s) that your child belongs to. Explain to your child that a cultural group is a set of people who do similar things.
Gather items from your cultural group(s) that your child can touch and explore. Examples:
- photographs
- food
- music
- art
- clothing
- symbolic objects
- books
- special toys or dolls
Talk about why those items are important to your family's culture, and how they relate to your customs, traditions, or holidays.
Encourage your child to interact with the items and ask questions about them.
Put PEER Into Action
Pause:
- Give your child a big hug before beginning.
Engage:
- Explain the objects, like: "Here's a very special outfit. It's called áo dài and I wear it to celebrate Tết and other important events. Can you touch it with a gentle touch?"
- Share personal experiences or stories about the cultural objects you're sharing.
Encourage:
- Allow your child to handle the objects and ask them to describe the colors, shapes, textures, smell, taste, etc.
- Encourage your child to ask questions about the objects.
Reflect:
- How did your child react to the cultural artifacts and how can you extend this learning?
Not quite ready?
Read a children’s book with a main idea or content that highlights and celebrates your child’s cultural traditions.
Ready for more?
Learn more about other cultural traditions. Read books about different cultures, or plan a visit to a museum or community festival.
As your child masters this skill...
They will be able to identify their own cultural traditions and begin to understand how this may differ for others.