May is Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Every year in May, we make a little extra effort to celebrate AAPI history, contributions, and achievements, and acknowledge the impact members of the AAPI community have had in the United States.
It's a great opportunity to help kids learn about their culture, where they came from, their family history, and their stories, as well as to share those lessons with kids from other cultures. Here are 10 fun ways to teach kids to be proud of their Asian heritage.
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Start a Family Story Journal
Work together with your kids to come up with a list of questions for a family history interview with relatives. Open-ended questions are better than those with yes or no answers. It helps bring out their memories, thoughts, emotions, and experiences.
Next, get your kids to capture what they've heard in a journal. Add what you learned. Make it a tradition to keep updating it every time anyone in the family learns something new. This helps kids feel connected to the past, mindful of the present, and hopeful for the future.
Make a Family Tree
A family tree is a wonderful way to visually represent your lineage, as well as distant and current family members. Making one with your kids is an effective way for them to understand where they came from, discover who they are, and create a sense of belonging. Several sites provide family tree templates, making them easier to create:
Make a Family Recipe Book
Food is the glue that holds many AAPI families together. Making a recipe book that captures all your family's recipes can help kids appreciate their cultural identity. Whether it is a physical book or an online collaboration, the recipes can be passed down for years, allowing your children to feel a sense of pride when making these meals.
Create Arts & Crafts
Get creative by making art inspired by your culture. Register your kids for an AAPI artist-led class to learn a traditional craft. Or look up video tutorials and do it yourself at home.
Pick a time, get supplies, learn, and create. Some examples include painting, calligraphy, origami, masks, pottery, and wood sculptures.
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Listen To AAPI Music
Each AAPI culture has its own music genres such as traditional, classical, folk, and pop. Choose your favorite music streaming app, look up songs, and play tunes for your kids. Ask them what they think and feel about the songs.
Sing Karaoke
Karaoke is a popular pastime within many Asian cultures, including Japanese and Filipino cultures. Whether you go out with the kids for a night of singing, buy a karaoke machine, or put on YouTube, karaoke is a fun way to learn a language while creating a love for their culture and having fun.
Use Dance To Connect With Your Heritage
Dancing is a universal language that connects the body, mind, and soul. Each AAPI culture has its own style of dance. From dragon dance, bon odori, and hula to bhangra, kids can pick up moves from a TikTok video, follow a YouTube tutorial, or take in-person classes at a community cultural center.
Play AAPI Games
From Korean yutnori and Chinese mahjong to Indian cricket, playing games is a wonderful way to teach gameplay and sportsmanship and to understand how a culture has fun.
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Read Books That Empower AAPI Readers
Reading stories about AAPI history, significant events, and the lives of important leaders is an empowering way to help kids feel proud of their heritage. Some books we like include the following:
Wear Clothing That Celebrates Your Culture
Help kids connect with their roots through the clothing they wear. You may want to buy some traditional clothing for your kids, such as a Chinese changshan, Korean hanbok, or an Indian saree. Or it may be an #aapi T-shirt. Wearing these clothes allows your children to express and celebrate their traditions and culture.
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