Parents have a special duty to encourage children to learn about and celebrate other cultures -Kiran Balimane

Have you ever imagined what it would be like if all human beings looked the same, like clones, practised the same religion, social customs, and traditions, wore the same clothes, and ate the same food? It would be a very dull world.

That’s why cultural diversity is so important! Cultural diversity refers to the existence of various cultural or ethnic groups within a society. Differences in language, customs, beliefs, practices, traditions, and values are markers of all cultures. Fortunately, Planet Earth hosts thousands of unique cultures, each with its own traditions, beliefs, and values.

For children, exploring cultural diversity is an incredible opportunity to learn and grow, says Dr. Monica Nagpal, a Hyderabad-based psychologist, parenting coach and founder of hopeandhappiness.com. “Especially in multi-cultural India, parents have a special duty to encourage children to learn about and celebrate various cultures. It opens their minds to new ideas, fosters empathy, prompts them to appreciate differences among people, promotes inter-cultural understanding and creates a more tolerant and peaceful society” says Dr. Nagpal.

Dr. Nagpal elaborates the benefits of children learning and appreciating cultural diversity:

• When children learn about different cultures, it opens their minds to new ideas and perspectives, and they grow into more compassionate individuals.
• Cultural diversity allows children to make friends with peers from around the world, thereby learning from each other’s cultures.
• Every culture has unique traditions and celebrations — from Diwali in India to Hanukkah in Israel. By celebrating different festivals, children learn to honour the history and heritage of every culture.
• Learning about various cultures encourages children to respect the history, stories, songs, and dances of all people.
• Appreciating cultural diversity enables children to build bridges of understanding and respect between people of differing backgrounds.

Dr. Nagpal also suggests some family activities to encourage children to celebrate cultural diversity:

Try new cuisines. This is a great way to explore different cultures. From sushi to tacos, samosas to pasta — there’s a world of food and flavors waiting to be discovered.

Learn a new language. There are over 7,000 languages spoken worldwide. Learning a few words in a different language can open a new world of communication and friendship.

Celebrate festivals. Participate in festivals of different cultures. Whether it’s dancing at a Chinese New Year parade, decorating eggs for Easter, festivals offer a great opportunity to learn about other cultures.

Listen to music. Explore the rhythms and melodies of different cultures — from African drumming to Indian classical music.

Share stories. Every culture has its own stories and legends. Whether it’s reading folktales from Japan or listening to Aboriginal Dreamtime stories from Australia, sharing stories is a wonderful way to learn about different cultures.

“I also recommend animated movies that offer children valuable lessons about cultural diversity, importance of celebrating differences, and power of understanding and empathy. They include Coco, Moana and The Breadwinner,” adds Dr. Nagpal.