With our world constantly evolving, the importance of fostering cultural competency in parenting methods has become increasingly more apparent. The moral skillset of embracing diverse perspectives, traditions, and values has been shown to be necessary in setting children up for success both inside and outside of the classroom, as well as in their future careers.  Though many schools utilize culturally responsive teaching and integrate cultural competency into their curricula, it is important to begin this teaching in your own home.

For those that are unaware, according to the National Center for Cultural Competence, cultural competence can be defined as, “A way of understanding and appreciating cultural differences.” This skillset refers to one’s ability to honor and respect the beliefs, language, interpersonal styles and behaviors of individuals and maintain an understanding of their own cultural identity. With the knowledge and skills to respect and integrate cultural differences, parents can ensure that their child receives nurturing and effective care tailored to their unique cultural background.

The dedication of parents to teaching these skills has lasting effects on their child’s social interactions and identity development. According to Klara Coleens from The Mentoring Project, teaching cultural competency throughout childhood has been proven to:

·       Promote empathy

·       Improve language skills

·       Promote tolerance and respect

·       improve critical thinking skills

·       Encourage collaboration and teamwork

·       Promote healthy identity development

·       Foster a positive view of themselves and their families

Since children are like sponges, soaking up every drop of information during their primary years, it is vital to grow and nurture a cultural competency skillset as early as possible. Mirroring empathetic behavior and an open-minded attitude is a great place to start. Parents may also consider incorporating the following into their parenting styles:

Practice mindfulness when discussing cultural differences: Stereotyping is a common practice in the world today that can lead to poor identity development and negative self image. It is important to remain aware of categorizing people into groups or making generalizations.

Teach and practice empathy: Modeling empathy in your home is necessary for the cultural competency of yourself and your family. Practice walking in another person’s shoes, be open to new perspectives, and avoid assumptions.

Practice effective engagement: In order to properly build cultural competency, we must engage in active listening. Ensure that you are fully understanding someone’s beliefs and experiences by concentrating on what they are saying and asking open-ended questions.

Practice self-assessment and reflection: Reflect critically on your own biases and assumptions. You may be unknowingly mirroring prejudices and stereotypes for your children, so ensure that you are holding yourself accountable to avoid this.

Practice Positive Change and Take Action: Exhibit positive interactions with various cultures. This can include avoiding judgement and embracing beliefs, values, languages, cuisines, and views on roles in relationships.

At the end of the day, every parent wants their child to be proud of their uniqueness and see the differences in their peers as something beautiful, rather than something tolerable.

Through education, advocacy, and understanding, we can create a nurturing environment where all children and families can thrive. By moving beyond just tolerance, we can form a genuine understanding for the importance of cultural diversity through the promotion of empathy and inclusivity.

Resources:

Windon, Suzanna. (2023). What is Cultural Competence and How to Develop it? Penn State Extension. https://extension.psu.edu/what-is-cultural-competence-and-how-to-develop-it

Coleens, Klara. (2023). Fostering Global Awareness and Empathy in Children: The Power of Cultural Exposure. The Mentoring project. https://www.thementoringproject.org/blog/

Goode, T. D., & Dunne, C. (2004). Cultural self-assessment. From the Curricula Enhancement Module Series. Washington, DC: National Center for Cultural Competence, Georgetown University Center for Child and Human Development https://nccc.georgetown.edu/curricula/culturalcompetence.html

Najarro L., Will M., (2022). What is Culturally Responsive Teaching? EducationWeek. https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/culturally-responsive-teaching-culturally-responsive-pedagogy/2022/04