Multicultural Parenting

America is known as the melting pot of the world due to the many nationalities that have immigrated to America and gained citizenship or are working on their citizenship. We are so accustomed to our neighborhoods and our own family and friends that we don't realize how much segregation we live with daily. Whole areas are Asian, African American, Caucasian, Puerto Rican, and so on. Despite the fact that this nation is a melting pot our children and youth are not exposed to as much diversity as we may believe that they are. Multicultural parenting is training your child to accept and love others unconditionally not based on race or prejudice.

People still tend to stare at interracial couples. Couples still face the challenges of family accepting their relationships based on cultural astigmatisms and differences. As a nation we have a ways to go in truly accepting others as they are. We can train the new generation to see with multicultural vision. Here are some ways to prepare children to accept and appreciate diversity.

The beauty in the faces of diversity: Share pictures of different faces with them. Creating children that do not see color or race or differences as ugly or unsightly is possible. Share with your child pictures of other people from different races and nations. Pictures speak a thousand words. Photos can speak volumes to children. View photos of Asian, African, Italian people, etc and talk about the shape of their eyes and the type of hair that they have with appreciation. You can obtain library books about nations and share with your children a world consciousness. Teach them to see beauty in difference.

Encourage friendships with other children of different races: Create play dates with other children. Give them a chance to eat together and visit each others homes. Experiencing foods and homes of friends with different cultures will open your child up to seeing the beauty in diversity.

Comment positively about other races around your child: On purpose, when watching TV, movies, or when walking in the mall comment positively on different races. Avoid comments that include race such as that black man or that white man. Instead use other ways to describe those that you come in contact with such as the clerk in the store, the tall man behind the counter, the woman with the big smile, etc. The comments that we make in passing formulate acceptance or rejection of others in our children.

The diversity of our world swirls around us in our American culture. Use daily interactions with others to create a loving heart toward others in your child. Answering your children's questions about other's appearance or culture politely and without an adverse reaction will encourage them to learn about others. Help your child accept diversity with grace and love.