‘Family’ can be best defined as a social institution, comprising people who are related to each other by blood (although, not always), living together in a common residence. Family plays a significant role in the social development of the individual. With parents to nurture and protect and siblings to support, the person learns his first critical social lessons as a member of the family. To acknowledge the value addition made by families to the society, the United Nations celebrates International Day of Families on May 15th every year.

This year, the theme is ‘Families and Inclusive Societies’ to highlight the role of the family driving inclusivity and building a more peaceful tomorrow, with equal opportunities for everyone. The structure of the family is slowly changing to suit the social, economic and demographic trends. Gender roles are getting altered as the concept of a heteronormative society is slowly changing. People with special needs are also slowly getting integrated into the society. While these changes do reflect our changing times, we still have a long way to go for a truly inclusive society. Here’s how families can promote more inclusivity.

1. Set the Right Foundation

Children are subconsciously learning from their parents, so you should be the change you want to see. As a parent, you should set the right example at home so that your children will follow suit. Embrace your child's individuality instead of forcing them to fit into a mould. Be careful about making bigoted statements about a community or a group of people in front of them. Encourage your children to see similarities rather than differences.

2. Create the Right Environment

Expose your children to a variety of cultures, cuisines and people from different walks of life. Never project your own culture as superior and allow your children to appreciate other cultures, without commodifying them.

3. Support Your Child’s Social and Emotional Needs

Encourage their friendship with their peers with special needs, children from other cultures and teach them to look at them as their equals. Explain to them that physical differences aside, we are all the same inside.

4. Teach them Individualism and Collectivism

Teach them the importance of individualism and standing up for what they believe in, but it should never be at the cost of the collective whole. Combine both the values in your parenting so that they realise that while ‘I’ is important, it is never above the ‘We.’ Foster independent thinking, self-expression and personal choices but along with egalitarian beliefs and respect for others.

If you want to build a truly inclusive society, you have to ensure you and your family are part of the solution and not the problem. As an individual’s first social institution, families should take a decisive step towards accommodating these differences and promoting a sense of belongingness.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 15, 2018 11:57 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).