Teaching Italian American Heritage to Children
How to Teach Children About the History of Italians in America
Oct 1, 2009
Children learn from several sources – the media, school, and their family. Teaching children about their Italian heritage has largely become a task for parents; but with work and so many other obligations, taking the time to even learn about and then teach a child can seem like an insurmountable chore.
Make Teaching Enjoyable
Parents have the advantage of knowing their child’s likes and dislikes, interests, and learning capabilities. With this information a teaching program can be created specifically for each child. If a child enjoys sports, start with a discussion about Italian or Italian American sports figures. If music is important to a child, a conversation about musicians with an Italian heritage can span across all genres, from the newest tunes to the classics.
Most important is that the parent must also have an interest in the topic, but that should not be too difficult because Italians and Italian Americans have made considerable contributions to just about every aspect of life. Websites and books are available listing the numerous achievements by those of Italian heritage. An online search for “Italian American” (in quotes as shown) + (plus) the topic of interest will bring a variety of results.
Teaching About Italian Family Traditions
Children should be taught as much as possible about their ancestors. Browsing through photograph albums and sharing stories about the people in the pictures, especially if related to some of the child’s interests, will create a connection to the past. A younger child can associate objects with pictures. For example, if a great grandparent was photographed in a garden, the child can link garden tools or certain plants or vegetables to the family member. An older child can write a story or participate in gardening activities.
Family possessions that have been handed down are another way to form bonds with ancestors. A vintage scarf, porcelain figurine, or holiday ornament can inspire stories and imaginations. Classic Italian family traditions can be readily found in the recipes of the past. When parent and child join together to prepare a traditional recipe, both benefit from the memories created by previous generations.
Teaching About Italian Heritage
Involve the child in the teaching experience by creating learning games that are fun and easy. An online scavenger hunt can provide an interactive voyage, allowing the child to learn at his or her own pace. Keeping in mind the child’s interests and skill level, the parent can give the child a list of items that relate to Italian heritage to find online. The items can be related to a specific topic such as baseball or the broader topic of sports. For older children, a time limit can be established, and for all ages, the parent and child would share in this activity, with the child seeking the items that the parent has specified.
Parents can also use their own word lists and create puzzles from word searches to hidden messages at puzzlemaker. Start by reading about Giovanni da Verrazzano and choosing words from the article. Then read it with the child, talking about some of the “words” that were chosen for the puzzle. For example, a discussion about Verrazzano’s voyage along the coast can become a puzzle about the states he discovered.
A map of Italy, or a virtual tour of the ancestral town, can give the child a better perspective of the family’s journey from Italy to America. Showing the distance on a globe or world map and discussing the voyage can open dialogue and forge a child’s imagination through curiosity and wonderment.
Italian American Heritage
Teaching children about their Italian heritage is a learning experience for both parent and child, and the topics should be of interest to both the teacher and the student. Children can be taught about family traditions and their Italian heritage through participatory activities and through a variety of interesting games.
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