Nowadays, we often find a lack of love among the younger generations for their own culture. They tend to prefer products and cultures from abroad rather than becoming familiar with the diverse cultures that stretch from Sabang to Merauke.
However, this is not solely due to the apathy of our young generation, but rather a lack of awareness.
Whether they realize it or not, parents play a role in this situation. Therefore, parents must actively introduce our cultural diversity from an early age. The methods used do not have to be complex; They just require patience.
First of all, it is essential to teach children to use local products. Many local products are of high quality, comparable to foreign ones. For example, Indonesia has a variety of distinctive products such as batik and fabrics.
Today, clothing items made from batik and fabrics have evolved rapidly, keeping up with trends and being suitable for all ages, including children.
Similarly, our traditional cuisine faces competition from fast food industries due to convenience and children’s preferences. That’s why we often choose fast food.
In addition to being unhealthy, fast food also erodes our traditional foods. However, traditional foods are healthier and richer in flavor thanks to spices.
In this case, parental involvement is crucial to ensure that children not only consume fast food but also know and preserve traditional foods. For example, parents can cook with their children.
Secondly, reading Indonesian folk tales to children is another effective method. The introduction of Indonesian culture can be done through folk tales, especially since books are easily accessible nowadays.
Modern folklore books are creatively packaged with concise stories and imaginative illustrations, making it easy for children to understand and enjoy the stories.
Additionally, e-books are available through smartphone applications such as iPusnas. This app can be downloaded for free from the Play Store and offers a wide range of free complete books.
With this convenience, parents can actively read and accompany their children in reading Indonesian folk tales from an early age. The positive character values obtained from books have more impact when there is communication between children and parents.
Thirdly, it is essential to introduce children to the various Indonesian cultures. Understanding our diverse culture can seem challenging for children. For example, in Cultural Arts classes, children may become bored, which leads to disinterest.
The introduction of local culture can begin within the family. For example, parents can encourage the use of regional languages and proper Indonesian. Today, children tend to pride themselves on their fluency in foreign languages more than their national and regional languages.
This does not mean that they should not learn foreign languages. However, children must also develop a love for their regional and national languages from an early age. Parents play a crucial role in language habits at home.
Local culture can also be introduced by watching culturally rich movies or visiting cultural sites such as cultural museums, cultural parks, temples, exhibitions and more. Enjoying these types of activities makes it easier for children to learn about the culture, sometimes without even realizing it.
Fourth, it is valuable to introduce traditional games. There are many traditional games such as congklak, gobaksodor, engklek, egrang, trompos, rangkualu and many more.
Introducing traditional games helps children understand the diversity of Indonesian culture, which includes traditional games. While playing, historical knowledge and benefits can be intertwined, fostering children’s love of Indonesian culture.
Introducing culture in a pleasant way can inspire tech-savvy millennials to continue appreciating their own culture. They have the future of development and preservation of Indonesian culture on their shoulders.
