Teaching Our Kids Genuine Cultural Tolerance

The world we live in today is a melting pot of various cultures, religions and nationalities. In almost every city in the world, you will find diverse groups of people living side by side, working together and merging each other’s traditions with their own. It’s not surprising for people to speak more than one language or find young kids eating food from a different ethnic cuisine from their own.

Unfortunately there are still some people and even children who frown upon customs they are unfamiliar with or people of different color or race. Some clichés and stereotyping still exist in most parts of the civilized world. Children who are more open-minded about other cultures usually have parents who are likewise tolerant and exposed to a diverse society.

We may teach our children about being tolerant to immigrants from other nations and treating them as equals but if they hear us make snide remarks that stereotype their culture or religion, a mental impression may stick instinctively. Children carry these impressions till adulthood without even remembering how or why they have certain feelings, such as superiority or suspicion, towards people from a particular race or religion. This perpetuates a cycle of hate and distrust concerning other people.

Because our communities are becoming more diverse, our children’s future relationships, careers and success depend on how they are able to understand and work hand-in-hand with people from different backgrounds. Tolerance is the ability to understand and respect customs, religion, culture, sexuality and even physical and mental disability of other people. Of course not all aspects need to be accepted like stealing, bullying and other negative characteristics.

Children discover values from watching their parents and other adults who are influential in their upbringing such as teachers, counsellors, religious leaders and political figures. Teaching tolerance starts with exposure and then guidance. Show your kids how to appreciate food from other cultures and expose them to friends from various ethnic backgrounds and religions.

Most of us work with people of different backgrounds, invite them to your home for a BBQ so that your kids can meet them. Your children will observe your attitude towards your foreign guests, how you treat them, speak to them and respect their individuality. Children imitate your examples and mirror your values. They will soon discover that it’s easier and much more fun to get along rather than to fight each other. People who get along share what they have like money, opportunities, assets and resources.