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More than perhaps any other time the world’s survival may depend on better understanding of both the interconnectedness and diversity of its people.  Migration in Australia is on the increase and more and more cultures are entering into our society.

Sometimes as adults we may have difficulty in understand the cultures of others, however, we must understand that they also need time to adapt and adopt some of our own Australian customs and values.

Children are exposed to other students at school who come from other countries.  Young children in their innocence don’t even notice or look for differences in other children it’s only when others show prejudice that they become aware of the difference and hence the culture acceptance comes into play.

Parents have the best opportunity to help their children develop respect for other cultures and to teach them about the prejudices of others.

What can you do to help your child understand respect other cultures?

If you have read my other articles you will note that I have stressed that as a parent what you model to your child is what the child learns.  If this point is written a million times it is not too many.

Your child sees you as their hero, they believe you know everything, at least whilst they are young they do) and what you teach in the child’s formative years (the formative years are between birth and 8 years of age) will stay with them and serve them the rest of their lives.

Telling your child that prejudice is bad is not enough, especially if then by your actions or words you contradict what you are preaching to them.  Even as adults, a respect of other cultures only matures when we get an understanding of other custom and values that differ from ours.  To do this we need to read books on multi cultural societies, we can watch multi cultural shows on TV and better still we can be open to mixing and making friends with people from other countries.  In doing this our own lives are enriched as we learn a lot about their customs, values and food. Understanding results in respect and acceptance. 

There are many ways to promote tolerance for others.  You can:

• Tell your child people are all different and it is that difference that makes our world exciting and a better place to live in.
• Explain to your child that fundamentally what is important is what’s inside not outside a person that counts.
• Point out prejudice when it happens and explain the ugly consequences of prejudice.  Encourage him/her to speak up when they see another child being treated unfairly.
• Discuss how certain cultural patterns have developed and or have been influenced by such things as history, climate, literature and art.
• Ask your child how they would like to be treated if they went to another country which had different customs and values to theirs. This will give the child an understanding as to how it feels to be in the shoes of a migrant.
• Take pride in your own cultural heritage and share it with your child.
• If you have friends whose cultures or lifestyle are different to your own be inquisitive and encourage your child to have discussions about the difference.  Children are less likely to fear what they know.
• Ignorance breed prejudice ­ to learn and integrate with other cultures different to your own take the family to ethnic restaurants, festivals and other places that expose your family to different customs and lifestyle