One of the most important things that you can do for your kids is teach them all about their heritage. I often times find many adults truly have no idea about their roots. Teaching your kids about the past and where they came from is important for many reasons.
How does it benefit your children?
- It helps them establish an identity
- They will learn about their ancestors
- They can share stories about their heritage with their peers
- Traditions will be passed down
My family is from Mexico and we strive to teach our children all about Mexican culture and heritage any chance we get. While we travel to Mexico often, this year had a change of plans for us but we still found ways to teach the girls about their Heritage.
Cook authentic meals
I love cooking traditional Mexican food and it’s so fun to share with the girls why I love the recipes. Anything from sopa de fideo to chilaquiles, I like to teach the girls that these are dishes that are eating all the time in Mexico, and it is what we eat most often in our home too!
Share stories
Gather with family to share stories about your heritage and culture. Teach your kids what it was like growing up in your home, and have grandparents do the same. Kids love to ask questions and learn about their family.
Read books
There are so many books out there for every heritage and culture that you should add into your library. Not only is it important to teach your kids about your culture, but also about other Heritages too.
Sing songs
Listen to music that brings the culture alive. Sing and dance and have fun with the music.
Teach kids new languages
It is so important for the girls to be fluent in English and Spanish. Spanish was my first language and I have the girls in Spanish-speaking schools to ensure they can communicate efficiently in Spanish. Especially living in a border town, this was very important to us.
It’s never too late to start talking to your kids about their heritage. Incorporate it into your daily routine to help your kids understand diversity. Being culturally diverse is one of the greatest gifts you can pass on!
