Nurture Your Indian Roots Away from Home

Living abroad presents families with significant challenges in maintaining their connection to their Indian roots. There’s a constant concern about losing touch with home, traditions, and culture, especially as children grow up in a different environment. Parents often worry that their children might adopt foreign values conflicting with traditional Indian beliefs. Despite these challenges, Indian parents make concerted efforts to ensure their children stay rooted in their cultural heritage. Additionally, you can book cheap tickets to India from Canada through tripbeam to take your children on a cultural trip to India.

Why should cultural influences be introduced to children?

Culture shapes children’s identities & influences their linguistic, social, physical, and emotional development. Exposure to cultures, beliefs, language, art, food, and religion is critical for a child’s overall education. One must purchase Business class flight tickets to India to give his/her children cultural exposure. When children face cultural differences, their learning process may be hampered. Educators have an important role in encouraging diversity and cultural understanding in schools, ensuring that all children feel valued and included.

Parents living abroad frequently find difficulties in establishing cultural values in their children. Here are some successful techniques for parents to foster cultural bonds and keep their children rooted in their heritage:

Engage youngsters in a regional language or mother tongue

While embracing the culture of their current country and learning new languages can be beneficial, it’s equally important for children to maintain fluency in their mother tongue. Language is a cornerstone of culture, and consistent practice ensures proficiency, regardless of any accent. This proficiency enables children to communicate effectively with friends and family back home, preserving their cultural connections.

Celebrate every traditional festival

Festivals offer an enjoyable way to introduce children to Indian values, customs, rituals, and traditions. They also provide an opportunity to teach the historical significance of each festival through celebratory activities. Festivals are also a platform for introducing traditional music and dance to children. Additionally, it’s beneficial to acquaint children with religious prayers and encourage visits to temples, gurudwaras, or mosques. These experiences help children connect with their community and build networks within it.

Enroll them in classes

When parents feel overwhelmed and struggle with consistency, enrolling children in classes can help them stay connected to their cultural roots. Numerous online platforms offer activities in Indian music, dance, and other art forms, providing children with opportunities to learn new skills. This approach complements efforts made at home and enhances cultural education.

Food

Food serves as a powerful means to maintain a connection with Indian tradition and culture. Parents who prepare a diverse array of traditional dishes can effortlessly introduce historical anecdotes or stories associated with them. Food also serves as a gateway to introduce children to various festivals and rituals. Moreover, exposing children to a variety of cuisines stimulates different taste buds, which in turn activates different parts of the brain, enhancing their sensory experiences and cultural understanding.

Connect with the Indian diaspora through the local communities

For families living abroad, researching and connecting with local Indian communities is crucial. These communities provide valuable platforms for children to engage in cultural events. Most countries host Indian Associations that welcome memberships from various communities. These associations actively promote and preserve traditional practices through regular cultural events. Celebrating festivals with enthusiasm is a hallmark of many Indian communities abroad, offering families a chance to celebrate together and connect with fellow expatriates. Children benefit greatly from attending these events, observing shows, dramas, music, and dances, and can even participate and perform, fostering their cultural involvement and understanding.

Books, literature and TV shows

Parents have numerous media options to introduce Indian culture and tradition to their children effectively. Books, literature, and television are powerful tools for connecting children with their roots and reinforcing their sense of belonging. These mediums provide stress-free ways to impart important Indian values, beliefs, and rituals. Additionally, some parents use media to teach children essential prayers or religious verses. Movies are particularly effective in introducing children to concepts of religion, morals, and ethics in an engaging manner.

Family

The most organic way to stay connected to Indian culture and tradition is by maintaining regular communication with family back home. Encouraging children to engage in regular conversations with family members helps preserve the family bond and cultural ties alive across distances.

Conclusion

Parents should keep in mind that children primarily learn through observation and forming associations with their environment. A positive and supportive learning environment can positively influence a child’s development. Conversely, exposure to toxic or stressful situations can adversely affect development in various ways. While a child’s influences at birth are neutral, cultural exposures play a crucial role in shaping their overall growth and development. Thus, nurturing children in a culturally enriching environment is pivotal for their holistic development. Also, if you seriously want to give your child cultural exposure then you should grab last minute flights from Canada to India now!