7 Simple Ways to Teach Kids About Their Heritage

Trade in your traditional bedtime book for one that highlights your tots' heritage. By explaining culture through a medium they love, kids are more likely to understand and appreciate it. Make sure, however, to keep the content light, opting for books with beautiful photos as opposed to lots of words.

This may be tough if you have a picky eater in the house, but an authentic meal acts as a great teaching tool. As you are dining, explain what the meal consists of and how it connects to your heritage. For an additional teaching moment, get your kids to help prepare the food.

Oftentimes, parents are just as clueless about their culture as the kids. Search the Internet for nearby culture centers, parades, or festivals that will educate (and entertain) everyone in the family.

In addition to improving their brain development, learning to speak in their family's native tongue will help kids feel more connected to their heritage. Sign up your tot for a class, or download an app they can use anytime, anywhere.

You may know a lot about your family's roots, but not as much as those who came before you. Take the kids to their grandparents' house — or, if they are lucky enough, their great-grandparents' house — for an afternoon spent looking at old photos and talking about the family's history.

What better way to connect kids to their ancestors than with a trip to the place they came from. The direct exposure will introduce your child to cultural aspects that can't be explained in a book. While traveling with a tot can be difficult, the memories they make and lessons they learn will be worth it.