Teaching Preschoolers Cultural Awareness With New Year Traditions From Around The World

The start of a new year is a magical time for everyone. It’s a chance to explore new beginnings, set goals, and enjoy time together before the new year officially begins. What a great opportunity to teach your preschooler how different cultures around the world celebrate this time of year.

The preschool age is one of the most pivotal periods of childhood. During these years, children are extra absorbent of their surroundings, so they pick up culture, practices, and traditions easily and with profound curiosity making it the perfect time to explore different cultures. Plus, new traditions from around the world present the opportunity to teach diversity and empathy through exposure. Never mind it’s one more way to keep your preschooler engaged with a winter break activity before they return to school.

In this article, we’ll explore 6 age-appropriate New Year activities from around the world so you can start a new tradition of open hearts and minds with your little one.

Spain: 12 Grapes For Luck

Similar to the United States, people in Spain gather in a popular city square called Puerta del Sol. The festivities are broadcast throughout the country. When the clock strikes midnight, families and friends eat a total of 12 grapes to usher in luck for the new year. Consider creating a counting game with the grapes to practice numbers while learning about Spanish New Year traditions. Make sure to cut the grapes in half for your preschooler!

Scotland: Hogmanay and First Footing

In Scotland, the last day of December is called Hogmanay and it focuses on celebrating the Winter Solstice. The first tradition of Hogmanay is called “redding the house”, but it doesn’t have anything to do with the color red. It’s a tradition of cleaning the home so the new year can begin with good luck.

The next Hogmanay tradition is for the first person (first foot) who enters the home on January 1 brings good luck and small gifts (a coin, bread, or salt). It is common practice for someone to simply walk outside and knock to come back inside when the clock strikes midnight.

Japan: Bell Ringing

In Japan, years are completely separate from one another and rather than New Year parties, bonenkai (year forgetting) parties are held. At the start of the New Year, Buddhist monks and some visitors ring temple bells a total of 108 times because it is believed that deep sound has the power to stop suffering. Consider creating a bell-ringing activity with a small or even toy bell. Encourage your preschooler to count how many times they ring the bell and perhaps take the opportunity to discuss letting go of mistakes.

Brazil: Wearing White and Feasting

In Brazil, wearing white on New Year’s signifies peace and purification. In addition to wearing all white, it’s a common tradition to wear brightly colored underwear under the white clothing as each color has a special meaning. Blue for tranquility and friendship, yellow for money and luck, pink for love, and green for health. For a fun family night on New Year’s Eve, consider wearing white as a family and eating lentilhas (lentils), just like they do in Brazil for good luck, peace, and wealth.

Belgium: Writing Letters

For older preschoolers or to include older siblings in the fun, this New Year’s Eve tradition can be an interesting and creative way to practice fine motor skills and letter writing. The tradition is for children to write letters to the elder family members wishing them season’s greetings. You can involve the whole family by letting the letters be anonymous, then reading them to guess who the message is from as a fun game for everyone.

China: Lantern Festival

In China, the New Year’s celebrations are famously adorned with tons of lanterns that light up and float into the sky. For your preschooler, the lanterns can be decorated with colorful markers or crayons, then lit up as midnight approaches.

Tips for Introducing Cultural Awareness to Preschoolers

No matter which activity feels like the best fit for your preschooler and the whole family, there are a few tips to keep in mind. The best way to introduce cultural awareness and diversity is to highlight the similarities and shared themes from the traditions here in the United States and the country’s traditions you are using. Keeping it simple makes it easier for preschoolers to grasp and enjoy. It can be helpful to incorporate visuals like YouTube videos or simple props.

Benefits of Teaching Cultural Awareness to Your Preschooler

Learning about a new culture is always fun, no matter the age, but for preschooler’s it can be especially important. At this impressionable age, young children are learning so much that contributes to their overall development. With cultural awareness, they’ll also learn:

• How to have a broader perspective outside of their immediate, everyday world.
• How to empathize and appreciate diversity while respecting differences.
• How to interact in a community both inside and outside of the home.
• How to think critically and with a sense of curiosity.

Additionally, engaging children in around the world play can help with language acquisition, creativity, and identity.

Premier Preschool in South Florida

At Parkland Children’s Academy, we are dedicated to providing a family-oriented environment that fosters community and respects diversity. We are a curriculum-based preschool that focuses on learning through hands-on play and we cater to all types of learners.

To help facilitate learning through play, our furniture is Jonti-Craft, the strongest and safest in childcare and our playground is toxin-free, antibacterial rubber. Take a virtual tour and see for yourself. Parkland Children’s Academy maintains a partnership with YMCA to encourage healthy lifestyles and we celebrate all types of holidays with age-appropriate activities throughout the year.

Call us today at 954-688-5877 to see how our VPK program can be the right fit for your preschooler.