Abstract

The Hong Kong government and society have become concerned about the lack of national identity, patriotism, and understanding of Chinese culture among children and teenagers. This concern has led to a call for educational reform to address such issues at an early age. This study explores the strategies used by parents of kindergarten children in Hong Kong to cultivate a sense of national identity, specifically focusing on the role of the arts. Thirteen parents are recruited to provide materials demonstrating how the arts have been integrated into daily life to help their children develop a national identity. In total, 125 valid materials are collected for this study, including 107 photos and eighteen videos. Additionally, interviews are conducted with participating parents to gain deeper insight into their practices and perspectives. Regardless of their child’s origin, we find that all parents aim to cultivate a Chinese national identity. These findings enhance our understanding of parental strategies in the context of national-identity education and highlight the potential of the arts as a tool for this purpose.