GROWIE's Preschool Development Corner Series 16
Grow Your Child's Sense Of Cultural Awareness
The increasing cultural diversity in the world today requires that we prepare our children for the inevitable multicultural environment in which they will grow up.
Living in multi-racial Singapore, it is important for our children to know and be sensitive to other people's ethnic backgrounds and cultures. Only then can our community continue to enjoy peace and harmony.
As parents, we have a duty to help our children develop a sense of cultural awareness, and to accept and appreciate the cultural diversity around them.
Ways To 'Grow' Your Child's Cultural Awareness
The following are some ways to help facilitate your child's cultural awareness, acceptance, and appreciation of the diverse cultures around him:
- Monitor your own attitudes and behaviour, because everything you say and do has an influence on your child's ability to tolerate diversity.
- Address any biased comments your child makes and teach him to recognise and refrain from using racist remarks.
- Teach him to speak out against racism and stand up for what is right.
- Console and reassure other children who have been hurt by name-calling or biased behaviour. If your child sees you showing compassion for those offended, he will too.
- Encourage him to read books and watch documentary programmes on the various cultures, so that he may learn about their customs, traditions, festivals, etc.
- Expose him to the variety of cuisines in Singapore. Make it a point to try a different ethnic group's cuisine each time you dine out as a family.
- Discreetly point out to him the different local languages around him every chance you get, like when you are travelling with him on the bus or the MRT. You may even teach him simple greetings in the different languages.
- Take him along to events of other cultures, especially during special occasions like birthdays, weddings, festivals, etc. Keep a look out too for exhibitions and other organised events that showcase the various cultures' cuisines, customs, arts and crafts, etc.
- Encourage your child to socialise eg. enrol him in a Club! Through the Club's activities, your child will have ample opportunity to mingle with children of other ethnic groups. He will be able to apply what you have taught him in real-life situations facilitated by the Club through the activities it organises for children.
* Based on full year 2008 sales value data reported by Nielsen MarketTrack Service for Infant Milk category, GUM 3+ & 6+ Segment in Total Singapore. (© 2009, The Nielsen Company.)
^ Applicable for GROW SCHOOL®
+ Applicable for GROW®
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