Why is it vital to teach kids about our culture and traditions?

posted on Jan 15, 2019

Culture and traditions refer to a pattern of human activity, the symbols which give significance to this activity, and it is represented in varied ways through the customs, costumes, literature, and art prevalent in a community. It will not be an exaggeration to call it the lifeblood of a vibrant society, expressed in the ways we celebrate, tell our tales, remember our heritage, and honor our past. Cultural belongings and traditional ideals not only play an important role in defining who we are but also help us to see the world in a different but positive light. It is a part of what we are born into and also forms a crucial part of the identity that we keep.

At Gurukul The School, we believe that traditions and cultural awareness play a crucial role in enabling the kids to develop a positive sense of identity and self-esteem. We believe that building a strong foundation of belonging and acceptance through cultural celebration rooted in traditions helps children to be more accepting of a diverse social network while transitioning into adulthood. Here are a few of the key reasons why we believe it is crucial to involve the ideals of cultures and traditions as a vital part of the pedagogy.

Develops self-esteem and respect for others

Culture and tradition offer a sense of belonging and comfort and serve as an anchor that binds a person to his/her roots. Having a deep understanding of the connection that one has with the extended members of the culture helps the young ones in realizing their self-worth. At Gurukul The School, we believe that knowing their unique place in this diverse world of multivariate cultures helps to instill in children a deep sense of respect about other cultures, beliefs, customs, and civilizations as well.

Improves learning abilities of children

We have noticed that participation in cultural events helps in augmenting the thinking skills, reaffirms self-respect, and promotes resilience in children. All of these factors significantly and positively affect their educational outcomes.

Reinforcement of the crucial values

Every culture and tradition have certain common underlying values that bind it all together. The beliefs of faith, integrity, freedom, personal responsibility, strong work ethics, and values of selflessness are something common to every culture globally. We, at Gurukul, believe these are the principles which our young minds should imbibe during the course of their education. Failing in these and relying only on academic excellence can never fulfill the aim of all-encompassing development that we aim for our pupils.

A celebration of unity among diversity

We live in one of the most diverse nations of the world, which also happens to be a land that celebrates unity despite the varied cultures, traditions, ethnicities, and religions that call it home. Our children, as the nation-builders of tomorrow, need to grow up learning about this diversity since they are the ones entrusted to keep this sense of unity intact further in the future. Only when the knowledge about the varied cultures and traditions of the country is imparted right from a young age, our children can grow up with the spirit of appreciating and preserving the unity.

At Gurukul The School, recognized as the Top CBSE School in Ghaziabad, we have always maintained a firm belief that regardless of the international teaching methodologies and world-class pedagogy that we imply, our budding geniuses need to be rooted in the traditions and cultures of the land. To that end, we have made sure that we make the Gurukulites aware of the significance of culture and traditions. We do this not only through the teachings in the classroom but also by means of various performing arts, activities, personality development initiatives, and even through the ‘havan’ performed for every child of the pre-primary classes in his/her birthday month. We also have ‘Kathashala’ which is our storytelling initiative to take children back to their roots and help them develop a deep and robust connection therein. All these initiatives have been helping us fulfill a significant part of our vision, which lies in creating the citizens of tomorrow having a deep understanding and respect for their rich cultural and traditional heritage in their hearts.