Originally published November 2017
Let's chat about the holidays! From Diwali to Eid to Christmas, the whole calendar is packed with amazing celebrations. But why should your child learn about a holiday their family doesn't celebrate? Simple: In 2025, our mission is to raise kids who value Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI).
Learning about traditions outside your own is one of the most powerful ways we can help our kids grow up with curiosity, empathy, and respect. It's all about making the world feel a little smaller and a lot friendlier!
Think of it this way: Cultural competence, the ability to understand and appreciate different backgrounds, is now a huge part of learning. We're setting our kids up to thrive in a global world!
We achieve this with the educational principle of the "Mirror and Window" concept:
Mirrors: Kids need to see their own family's traditions and life reflected in the classroom. This is crucial for their self-esteem and makes them feel like they belong.
Windows: They also need windows to peer into the lives of others. This is how they realize that their way of celebrating is just one of many wonderful ways to live.
By opening those windows with diverse holidays, we’re training them to be those compassionate global citizens we all want them to be.
It’s not just about being polite! Discussing a variety of holidays offers real, practical boosts to your child’s development:
Consider taking your child to some of the local holiday celebrations such as the San Francisco Chinese New Year Parade, a Christmas Eve Service at a church or the daily menorah lighting at Union Square.
Grownups can reinforce explaining holidays to preschoolers by reading multicultural holiday books. One benefit of reading holiday books to your children is that you will have the opportunity to explain your own beliefs and traditions and answer your child's questions. Better yet, you can learn along with your children if you don't know much about the holiday either. Here are some good books to start with:
Read more: 3 activities for celebrating multi-cultural holidays
When your child comes home talking about a holiday you don't celebrate, lean into their curiosity! Try asking them: "What was the feeling of the celebration? What did you learn that was similar to how our family celebrates?"
Preschool is where we plant the seeds of becoming great, well-rounded people. By embracing and sharing holidays from every corner of the world, we're giving our children the empathy and cultural literacy they need to thrive in the complex, beautiful world of 2025 and beyond.
Want to find out more about our inclusive curriculum? Contact Kids Konnect anytime.
Click here to learn about our play-based curriculum