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Help children develop cultural competence
As our world becomes increasingly more diverse, it is important for children to develop the knowledge of and comfort with people of different cultural and ethnic backgrounds. And yet research suggests that less than 35 percent of our youth possess this skill, often called cultural competence.
Parents who wish to develop a culturally competent home environment first need to examine their own attitudes and behaviors. It is unreasonable to expect our children to behave in ways that we do not. So, if we wish for our children to be culturally competent, then we must be culturally competent. For this to happen, we need to be accepting of and open-minded about differences. And more importantly, we need to actively seek out opportunities to develop cultural competence. If we take a passive approach, we tend to fall into a pattern that fails to counteract the pervasive negative messages about cultural and ethnic differences.
Here are 10 ways that busy families can learn more about other cultures and develop cultural competence:
- Honor and celebrate the holidays of different ethnic and religious groups.
- Bring books, dolls, music, images, and toys into your home that reflect diversity.
- Explore your own family’s cultural and ethnic heritage.
- Visit culturally rich art galleries and museums. Attend culturally diverse dance performances, musicals, concerts, festivals and other events.
- Show that you value diversity in the friends you choose and in the businesses you utilize.
- Talk about stereotypes and discrimination. Encourage children to tell you if they witness prejudice or are a victim of it.
- Get involved with an organization that works in the area of social justice.
- Be respectful. Create a family rule that makes it unacceptable to tease others because of their culture or ethnicity.
- Broaden your family’s social circle. Provide opportunities to interact with people with different cultures, ethnic backgrounds, religions and abilities.
- Be patient. Change takes time. Realize that transforming attitudes and behaviors can be challenging.
The development of cultural competence never ends. It is a continual journey, not a destination, which we all need to be aware of and comfortable with. We must recognize that we live in a society that has pervasive cultural biases and prejudices. Parents must take an active role in fostering children’s cultural competence. Indeed it is our willingness to talk about cultural differences and take an active role in challenging the prejudices in our society that will help our children be knowledgeable about and comfortable with difference.
By Laura Stanton, Family and Consumer Sciences and Community Development Agent in Butler County for Ohio State University Extension
LifeTime Tip
Certain psychological and social characteristics are present in strong families that cope with change. These characteristics include: commitment, appreciation, time together, faith and values, and coping skills.
Source: Stinnett, N., & DeFrain, J. (1985). Secrets of Strong Families. Boston, MA: Little, Brown, & Co.
Source: This information, in part or in whole, was taken from...http://www.ag.ohio-state.edu/~lifework/lifetime/vol9is10.htm
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