With these 11 facts about Japanese culture for kids, you can hopefully get your curious little minds interested in something other than the newest episode of their favorite TV show. In this age of technology, it is more important than ever to make conscious decisions to teach your youngsters things of value and not let too much of their minds get cluttered up with some of the garbage that plagues their most prized electronics. Teaching your kids facts about different cultures at a young age can be a great way to get them interested in different things. According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, the definition of culture is “the beliefs, customs, etc., of a particular society, group, place, or time.” It goes on giving examples like “ways of life” and “way of thinking, behaving, or working” mentioned in the same basic context. With all these different things that make up culture, it shouldn’t be hard to find something that will grab your child’s attention.
Not only is teaching your kids about different cultures an excellent way to educate and get them excited about new things, but it can be an ingenious way to teach them about values. Especially, those values that seem to be fading in our own culture. Japanese culture is especially an awesome culture to learn about as a child because it is so rich in values and yet has a fun, enchanting appeal.
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I remember when I was in the fourth grade, we had a unit completely devoted to Japanese culture. It was about two or three weeks where we would learn something new every day about different Japanese customs, beliefs, ceremonies and rituals. We also each had a specific topic that we had to do a big project on and present to the entire class. Those few weeks in my elementary school years left a big impression on me as a child that much of it has stayed with me years later.
Whether or not they realize or you as the adult realizes, kids actually enjoy and are interested in learning about this stuff! Even before a parent really has the chance to notice, young children are often very intrigued by people who look, dress, or act differently than what they are familiar with, which is just another reason why it is a good idea to teach your children about as many different cultures as possible. You could avoid a potentially embarrassing moment out in public by simply educating your child about the different people they may see and the unique cultures they represent, and this list of the 11 facts about Japanese culture for kids will be a great start!
Grown-ups, I haven’t forgotten about you! Although I found some great sites about Japan targetted at kids to help me come up with a kid-friendly list, 50 Crazy Facts About Japan You Won’t Believe is another informative list that I would recommend you check out for yourself! It is intended for a reader with a more mature mind than that of a child’s. I have made a point to include facts about Japanese culture that will covertly teach them important principles as well as ones that are just for fun. You can expect for whatever youngsters you share this with to learn great stuff about the Japanese culture along with some influential values and enjoy a laugh along the way!
