Teaching Children about Culture

Children in the United States are living in a growing cultural melting pot.

“The differences that come from people from all over the world enrich our culture, bringing new ideas and energy,” according to parenting Web site KidsHealth.org (www.kidshealth.org). “Many children are way ahead of their parents in terms of exposure to cultural differences. Their circle of friends, their schoolmates and their athletic teams are much more varied than those of even a generation ago.”

KidsHealth.org and other sources say the best way to teach diversity is by exploring favorite foods, specials holidays and other parts of cultures, expelling myths about people such as Native Americans.

“Throughout our lives, we have been bombarded by stereotypical portrayals of American Indians. Books, television programs, movies and toys tend to depict Native Americans as oversimplified feather-wearing characters,” according to Native Child
(www.nativechild.com). “Inaccurate and often offensive representations of American Indians are deeply rooted in the American consciousness.”

The media resource suggests using the correct name for Indian tribes and making sure books, toys and other materials accurately depict Native American culture.

“When evaluating books, toys or play activities, ask yourself these questions: Is there anything that would embarrass or hurt a native child,” Native Child states. “Make sure your books portray Indians in a respectful manner. For example, books with illustrations of animals, cartoon characters or children at play wearing headdresses, pipes or other items sacred to American Indians are especially offensive and disrespectful.

“Such illustrations do not encourage us to view Native Americans as human beings.”

Another Web site offers tips for teaching about Jamaican culture. Jamaicans.com suggests singing songs and playing games popular in the nation, cooking Jamaican food and traveling to the island.

“If there is one tall tale item from our culture that can be taken from the Jamaican culture, from generation to generation, it is the food,” the Web site (www.jamaicans.com) says. “There are some simple foods that you can introduce your kids to like patties and Jamaican pastries. At least three Jamaican meals a week is a good start.”

Multicultural Classroom
In a multicultural classroom, teachers can excel with the right tools.

“Pictures, maps and artifacts from the students’ home countries can be used as the basis for many different points of learning,” according to educational resource New Horizons for Learning (www.newhorizons.org). “Children need to experience the classroom as a safe environment where they can tell their stories or be encouraged to write or draw. Journals often are a good way for this to happen because they provide privacy.”

“ … Both teachers and students benefit when teachers are provided an orientation to new learner populations, identification of community resources to help with specific ethnic groups, information about the situation in home countries of the students and descriptions of the potential mental health and cultural adjustment challenges.”

Sources:

Dunn, Burna; Adkins, Myrna Ann. “The Multicultural Classroom: Teaching Refugee and Immigrant Children.” New Horizons for Learning. Cited 1 December 2006. www.newhorizons.org/strategies/multicultural/adkins_dunn.htm.

Michaelis, Bernhard. “Teaching Kids the Wonderful Diversity of American Indians.” Native Child. 1997. Cited 1 December 2006. www.nativechild.com/resources/article.html.

Murphy, Xavier. “Teaching our Children about your Culture.” Jamaicans.com. Cited 1 December 2006. www.jamaicans.com/culture/teach_culture.htm.

“Teaching your Child Tolerance.” KidsHealth.org. Cited 1 December 2006. www.kidshealth.org/parent/emotions/feelings/tolerance.html.