Aug 9 marked Singapore’s National Day, and the little island nation celebrated its 57th birthday with the usual fanfare, that is, a heart-stirring 2.5-hour-long parade featuring songs, dance and performances by local artistes.
Of course I had to take this opportunity to try to garner a little patriotism in my child, who currently holds two passports – one from Singapore and one from America. The latter was received on the basis of jus sanguinis –meaning “right of blood,” whereby at least one parent is a citizen of the country – and the former due to the right of jus soli*, which refers to the location of his birth, which was Singapore.
*Just so you know, Singapore, like China, does not give citizenship on the right of jus soli if neither parent is a citizen.
Let’s start with first clarifying that I believe in a spirit of patriotism but not nationalism. What’s the difference? Helpful Professor helpfully replies: “The key difference between nationalism and patriotism is that nationalism is the belief in an exclusionary and insular nation-state, while patriotism is the non-exclusionary love of your own nation. Here is a breakdown of the differences: Nationalism is a belief that your nation sits that the top of a hierarchy of nations.”
Now that we’ve got that cleared up, let’s get down and talk about how you can practically inculcate a spirit of patriotism in your child. Start simple: For younger children below 3, introduce them to the country’s national flag. Draw, color and make your own national flag for them to wave around the house. Then, further their knowledge by looking up the national symbols, particularly the ones in categories your child is interested in. For example, if your child is into animals, look up the national animal. Better yet, visit it at the Beijing Zoo. Don’t forget lesser-known national symbols like the national flower, bird and, in the unique case of America, tree!
Preschool tots should learn the national motto, anthem and pledge. It may be especially hard for expat kids to remember these since they don’t regularly recite them, and maybe even you may need some help jogging your memory! If you’re really on a mission to cultivate patriotism, consider getting the whole family to recite the pledge or sing the anthem every Sunday before dinner, or make it a fun impromptu test like a pop quiz when you suddenly ask them to recite one!
To up the ante, regularly read your country’s news with your kids, or at least discuss some key developments with them casually. Follow up by asking what they think and how they feel, paying special attention to make it more relevant by drawing their attention to how the news might affect their friends and relatives back home.
It can be hard for our third culture kids to connect with their home country(ies) considering how much time they spend out of it. Never make them feel bad for not identifying with your nation, and deepen their roots through consistent exposure, whether it be through books, videos or even movies made in your country.
KEEP READING: How Difficult Is It for International Students To Learn Chinese ?
Images: Pexels, Giphy
