5 Tips for Raising a More Cultured Child

It can be easy for children and parents alike to fail to learn about other cultures other than their own. However, you may want to do what you can to raise a more cultured child. If this is the case, consider these helpful tips for doing so.

1. Take Lots of Trips

One of the best ways that you can raise a more cultured child is by taking your family on lots of trips. Luckily, you do not have to spend a lot of money in order to do so. For one thing, you can get started by taking domestic trips; even taking your child to other cities and towns in your own country can be a wonderful way to expose them to more people, places, cuisine, accents and more. However, if you would like to raise a truly global child, taking international trips can be a great way to do so. Consider giving "experiences" -- such as international trips -- rather than a lot of gifts for the holidays so that you can make this possible. If you shop around online, you might be able to find some really good deals for international travel packages for you and your family, particularly if you are open-minded about where you visit.

2. Encourage Your Child to Learn Another Language

Learning another language is a great skill for children that can benefit them for the rest of their lives. Plus, encouraging your child to learn another language is a great way to help him or her become more cultured. Your child might already be taking Spanish or French lessons at school, but you can help encourage this even more by hiring a tutor who can work one-on-one with your child or by investing in a good software program that is designed to help kids learn another language.

3. Enjoy Foods from Other Cultures

One great way that you can teach your child about other cultures while having a fun -- and delicious -- time is by introducing foods from other cultures. Dining at authentic ethnic restaurants in your area is one good way to start, but with all of the information that is available on the internet nowadays, you can also look for recipes and tutorials to help you prepare these foods at home. You can shop at local ethnic markets to find the ingredients that you need for these recipes; if you bring your child along with you, this can be a good way to introduce him or her to other cultures as well. Then, you and your child can work together to create delicious meals with flavors from other nations.

4. Learn About Other Countries Together

Even if you are not able to take a trip to a certain country, this does not mean that you and your entire family can't focus on learning about that country. As a family, you can make it a priority to read books, watch documentaries and look for information online while learning about other countries that are far away. This can be an interesting and fun hobby for everyone in the family, it can be highly educational for your child, and it can be a great way for you to encourage your child to be more cultured as he or she grows up.

5. Encourage Your Teen to Consider Traveling Before College

When your child graduates from high school, it isn't a bad idea for him or her to consider taking a “gap year” to do a little bit of traveling. This can be a good way for your child to spread his or her wings and experience new places, people and things. As an alternative, your child could also consider studying abroad.

As you can see, there are a few tips that you can follow if you would like to raise a more cultured child. If you follow these tips, you can help your child learn a lot and experience new cultures and things from a young age. This can be fun for your child while he or she is young and can provide lifelong experiences as well.