How to Raise Confident Latino Kids in the USA

Growing up in the US as a Hispanic kid with low self-esteem was one of the biggest challenges. I was tan, struggling with the language, bad at pronouncing words properly and my fashion sense was too loud. To make matters worse, my parents never noticed the change, as they were busy making ends meet.

It was not until I started noticing Hispanic artists in the mainstream media that I felt finally at home. Not only did I regain my lost confidence, but I also realized the importance of the environment in raising a child.

I guess that is exactly the time when I started making mental notes about the kind of childhood I wanted to offer my kids. I always knew I wanted to raise kids with a very strong self of identity and Latino heritage, but while I was struggling with the language, I realized it was at the core of my confidence. 

So, if you are a Hispanic parent raising bilingual kids in the USA, here is everything that you need to know.

Create a Positive Learning Environment

Most parents wait for their kids to get into a formal setting where they can explore the culture and learn a language. However, putting a condition over learning means you are depriving your child of the authentic exposure that can eventually foster learning.

In fact, most of the learning can happen from daily life activities like ordering food, interacting with people, or even talking with customer service. For instance, brands like Optimum offer their services in the USA and offer very inclusive services.

Their goal is to make entertainment and the internet accessible for everyone regardless of their ethnicity. The brand also offers Optimum servicio al cliente 24 horas so the Hispanic customers can interact with the brand and seek guidance in Spanish any time of the day.

Work On Setting Standards

One of the biggest challenges that most parents face while raising bilingual kids is their lack of aspiration. When raised in a diverse culture, kids generally look up to the dominant one. This is mainly because, like most people, kids also like to associate with power and dominance.

Since kids get to notice all the people in powerful positions are white Caucasians, they lose interest in their own culture and language. As a parent, it is your role to take your child along with you to places where they can interact with other positive Hispanics they can learn from.

Apart from this, supporting Hispanic-owned businesses is also important. When your kids will notice more Hispanic business owners around them, they will get to interact with them and eventually, this will change their perspective toward the Latino community in general.

The person in a powerful position does not have to be a business owner specifically. It can also be a celebrity, singer, artist, or even a YouTuber.

Let Them Accept the Culture

Cultural acceptance is very important for kids when they are surrounded by people who don’t look like them. When I was a child most of the teachers, students in my class, neighbors, and even storekeepers were Caucasians. Eventually, I felt out of place trying to adopt their fashion and culture. This consequently affected my self-esteem, making me hate bright fun colors that were part of my culture.

As a parent, your focus should be on helping your kid accept their culture. This can be done by surrounding them with people who are proud of their heritage. In the digital world where everyone is connected to the internet, helping your child get familiar with culture is much easier and fun than ever before.

A good way to help your kids get familiar with the culture is by traveling. Visiting Hispanic countries will help your child not just get familiar with the culture and social aspects, but also the language and ways Hispanic people live in their countries.

Use Entertainment for Learning

Who doesn’t love watching movies and TV series? However, what you watch can affect what you think and how you perceive things. The Hispanic entrainment industry is one of the best and most loved industries so far.

Hispanic entertainment has gained a lot of attention, thanks to quality content and streaming sites. From movies to TV shows and music, we are noticing more people choosing Hispanic content over English content. So, using Hispanic content to introduce your child to Hispanic culture can really help them learn more about the culture.

Moreover, if you cannot afford to travel, movies and TV series can help the kids to at least get a gist of Hispanic countries and their culture.

However, keep in mind that while picking the content, do not go for Hispanic content produced and written by Caucasians for OTT platforms. Instead, opt for content that is not just written, but also has Hispanic actors. This way you can have an authentic representation of the Hispanic culture.

Raising a confident child especially as a minority comes with its unique challenges. The above-mentioned simple steps will not just help in building a much stronger relationship with your child, but also help them have a stronger esteem and an even stronger sense of worth.