Raising Global Citizens: How International Influences Enrich Modern Family Life

In a world more interconnected than ever, parents and children use many methods to improve childhood through education. Parents want to ensure their children acquire the skills to communicate effectively, understand the customs and traditions of countries around the world, and travel confidently to foreign lands.

Your children do not need to go on vacation abroad or attend an international school to gain the international experiences and exposure to other cultures needed in today’s world. Children can easily be exposed to different cultures through the people they interact with, the languages they hear, and the many traditions different cultures practice today.

Making culture a normal part of daily life for families today isn't about attaching a bunch of unusual experiences to raising children; it's about recognizing that all cultures are diverse and different in their own very normal ways.

As children begin to form their initial ideas about the world, they are still early on in understanding concepts of nationality and cultural identity. Children’s first experiences are highly influential in shaping how they react to things that differ from the norm.

By experiencing different cultural perspectives, children can develop curiosity and an open mind to new ideas. This does not mean children of every age need to know all the different customs and reasons for celebrations in other countries. Even learning about the daily routine of families from other countries can be very enriching for children.

Personal relationships can make these lessons more meaningful. For example, families who welcome international au pairs through programs such as Culture Care can introduce their children to different languages, traditions and everyday customs through regular interactions at home. Hearing stories about another country or learning how someone celebrates a familiar holiday can help children understand cultural differences in a natural way.

A child who regularly hears about different ways of viewing the world is better equipped to communicate with people who express themselves differently and to adapt to countries with very different social rituals.

It’s the parent’s job to answer children's questions about differences and cultures, then offer a variety of experiences so they can choose which ones they prefer.

Bringing International Perspectives Into Everyday Family Life

One of the most meaningful ways for your children to learn about other cultures is through personal relationships. While reading a book or watching a film about a foreign country can give children a good idea of how people live there, interacting with someone from another culture can give them a better sense of what that culture is really like.

This exposure can quickly shape the family’s way of life and the household's specific habits. They can prepare a meal together and share stories from childhood in a foreign country. Children can also be taught to sing in a foreign language.

When families open up to having an au pair from a foreign country, the most meaningful cultural experiences often happen informally and organically at home, especially when the au pair leads them and they occur frequently in the kids’ everyday lives.

The Value of Language Exposure Beyond the Classroom

Learning another language is often associated with lessons, vocabulary exercises, and school. However, beyond that, in everyday situations, children and young people can hear foreign languages and are constantly exposed to them.

Even occasional words or a few phrases used while you play with your child, go for a walk, or prepare a meal together can connect language to experiences children can relate to. Hearing a foreign language in everyday situations can feel natural, and even a few words or a simple phrase here and there can leave a positive impression and often spark interest in learning more.

You don’t have to introduce your child to lots of languages. Even knowing a few words of a foreign language and associating them with experiences is great. He may get hooked on learning more French.

Again, don't worry if your child doesn't become fluent in a foreign language when they are young. There are many other ways to expose your child to other languages and help develop an interest. Introduce books in foreign languages, play foreign-language music, watch a few foreign-language films, and talk about other countries and their cultures.

Creating Cultural Experiences Beyond International Travel

One doesn’t have to travel the world to have lots of international experiences. You can often experience another country's culture right in your own home.

By cooking dishes from around the world, children can become familiar with a variety of flavors and learn the traditions behind the meals that are part of their family's culture. You can then expand on these topics by learning more about the history of the recipes you have made and the regions they come from.

Stories and books about children from different cultures can be particularly effective. Readers can identify with the feelings and relationships at the center of the story while gaining insight into the experiences of children from other backgrounds.

Additionally, attending local community festivals, museum exhibitions, and other cultural events gives children opportunities to see that different cultures are present in their own community. This may help broaden their perception of the range of human experience.

Raising Children Who Feel Comfortable in a Connected World

As children grow up, their opportunities to meet people from different backgrounds will increase through school, friends, family holidays abroad, and work. An open, aware attitude to other cultures in childhood can help children handle different situations later in life.

Introducing children to cultures from around the world as they grow is only the first step toward helping them become globally minded. They also need space to grow in their understanding of differences, ask good questions, learn about stereotypes, and, most importantly, see that their parents are also learners who can disagree with others who have different viewpoints and ways of life.

Children take their cue from the adults around them. If you are interested in different cultures, then your children will be interested too. If you encounter something unfamiliar, deal with it naturally by asking questions where appropriate.

A global upbringing does not have to mean traveling to lots of countries or speaking lots of languages. Children are influenced by what they experience every day. They learn by experiencing different cultures and having meaningful connections with people who are different from themselves. How a family chooses to include international influences in daily life can help children become globally minded.