Yi Fei LOH  
Lee Tat CHOW 
Peidong YANG 

Keywords
identity
immigrant
education
ethnic cultures

Abstract

This paper explores how immigrant parents influence the development of their children’s identities in Singapore, drawing on qualitative interviews with parents from diverse backgrounds. A key focus is the balance between maintaining ethnic traditions and integrating into Singapore society, along with parents’ aspirations for their children’s national identity. It is found that immigrant parents play an active role in transmitting heritage cultural values and practices to their children, with a focus on maintaining a connection to their heritage while also promoting societal integration into the host country. This approach is particularly reflected in the parents’ discourse about their children’s linguistic maintenance and adaptation. This research adds more broadly to the understanding of the immigrant experience and its implications for social cohesion and multiculturalism in Singapore.

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