When my daughter was born seven years ago, I was convinced she was 100% Dominican, as both my husband and I were born on the island. Since then, I’ve come to realize that her identity is far more complex, heavily influenced by the American culture she was born into. That’s why I love teaching her and my two boys about Dominican culture and what it means to be Caribbean, especially since we are a minority within a minority group in the U.S.

I know that raising children in the United States presents a real challenge for parents: finding a balance between the dominant culture of their children and the one they left behind. For Dominican culture, it’s even more imperative to seize every opportunity to pass along our heritage.

As American Latinos, my kids are not only exposed to the dominant American culture but also to the multicultural fabric of the Latino community. This is a great advantage when raising global citizens, but it also makes it even more important for me to teach them about Dominican culture to help them develop their identity as American Latinos of Dominican heritage.

Language is more than just one element of culture; it’s a vital tool for them to fully appreciate it. I believe the ability to speak both English and Spanish is key for second-generation Dominicans to connect more deeply with their cultural roots. For Dominicans in the diaspora like myself, being away from the island breeze, the slow-paced mentality, and the friendliness of Dominicans is a burden we bear by staying connected through our music, food, books, and loved ones back home.

More than 15 years ago, in a paper published by the Journal of Linguistic Anthropology titled “The Language of Multiple Identities Among Dominican Americans,” Associate Professor Benjamin Bailey of the University of Massachusetts discussed the “negotiations” Dominican Americans must make to navigate issues of identity:

“As a group whose members are Hispanic, American, and largely of African descent, Dominican Americans must negotiate distinctive issues of identity in the United States. Language is central to these negotiations, both as a symbol of identity and as a medium through which to construct and display local social meanings. Dominican Americans use linguistic forms from multiple varieties of two codes, Spanish and English, to activate various facets of their multiple identities.”

I believe the abstract from his article remains relevant today. For those of us raising children in areas where there aren’t many Dominicans, teaching our kids Spanish is essential in nurturing a sense of identity and pride in their roots.

Furthermore, I’m a firm believer in multiculturalism as a vehicle for creating understanding among people. Hispanic Heritage Month provides all Latinos the opportunity to teach their kids not only about their own cultural heritage but also about the cultural backgrounds of other Latinos whose ancestry may differ from their own. As with everything in parenting, leading by example and learning from the rich history, traditions, and cultures of other Latinos will encourage our children to explore and be more curious, shaping them into global citizens.

During this month, I’ll be sharing ways I’m raising my children to fully embrace the multicultural society we live in and how they are immersed in American Latino culture with all its vibrant colors, flavors, and sounds.

My hope is that you will also explore Dominican culture with your children, teaching them the beauty of diversity and the broad spectrum of our Hispanic heritage. Whether you are of Dominican heritage or not, I encourage you to dive into the richness, color, and music of Dominican culture and have fun with your kids while exploring the vibrant Caribbean culture of the island of Hispaniola.

5 Things to Teach Kids About Dominican Culture During Hispanic Heritage Month

Music: If there’s one thing Dominicans love, it’s music. From Merengue to Bachata to the sounds of palos, no Dominican can resist the urge to dance. Music is the easiest way for Dominicans in the United States to stay connected to their roots. Playing old tunes to evoke memories of life back home and following new Dominican American artists like Romeo Santos, who has made Bachata popular among second- and third-generation Dominicans, helps keep the culture alive. If you have older kids, you can find videos from artists like Juan Luis Guerra, Sergio Vargas, Milly Quezada, and Fernando Villalona on YouTube. Their music and original videos showcase traditional Dominican culture, with love songs and dance tracks that also highlight the island’s natural beauty. Depending on where you live, you might find a Merengue or Bachata class for your kids as a way to connect with the rhythms. At home, Merengue, Bachata, and Salsa are always playing on the radio to nurture my soul while teaching my children some moves.

Food: I once read that “the way to someone’s heart is through their stomach,” and I believe there’s truth to that. One of the first things people tend to embrace from a different culture is its food. Although Dominican cuisine may not be as well-known as that of other Latin American countries, it’s an exciting adventure for those who haven’t tried it. During this month, you can research Dominican recipes and cook with your children, teaching them about the ingredients, their origins, and how the African and Spanish influences blend within Dominican culture.

Geography: A great teaching topic about the Dominican Republic is its geography. Geography is intrinsically connected to the way of life, culinary traditions, music, and even history. I often talk to my kids about the Caribbean islands and their location; kids usually enjoy learning about the sea, beaches, and tropical animals that inhabit the Island of Hispaniola. If your heritage is from a continental country, it will be valuable for your children to learn about the Dominican Republic’s natural treasures, like the highest peak in the West Indies and the largest lake and lowest elevation in the Caribbean, and how these features influence the personality and cultural expression of Dominicans.

History: As the first European settlement in America, the Dominican Republic’s 500+ years of history mark the starting point for the rest of the continent, especially the Latin American countries that settlers later inhabited. You can create activities and print coloring pages that illustrate this history and connect it to the history of your own country of origin or that of your parents or grandparents. Making these connections will help your children understand more about the history of Latinos.

Baseball: Although baseball wasn’t created in the Dominican Republic, Dominicans have certainly adopted it as their own. Teaching this part of our culture is great because it blends seamlessly with American culture. As an American Latino household, there’s nothing I enjoy more than teaching my kids about baseball and the achievements of Dominican players in American professional baseball. Many Hispanic kids already follow the sport and know some of the players, making it a fun way to connect with them while watching a game and discussing its history as it relates to Dominicans.

I hope you can engage your children in one of these activities and teach them a bit about Dominican culture. I will surely be teaching my kids about all of the Latin American countries celebrating independence in September and how we all contribute to the American Latino experience in the United States.