Parents' understanding of how their children interact within diverse and inclusive environments is critically important, as it fosters deeper cultural awareness and promotes a greater willingness to engage with individuals from different cultural backgrounds. South Africa is one of the more diverse nations in the word comprising of mix of citizens- the Nguni (comprising the Zulu, Xhosa, Ndebele and Swazi people), the Venda, the Tsonga, the Sotho (south and north), the San people. Then there are the people of 'Europeans', as well as people of mixed raced and Asian descent (South African History Online SAHO,2017). According to the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa (RSA, 1996), there are 12 official languages, with South African Sign Language (SASL) being the most recent addition. Promoting unity in South Africa requires the deliberate fostering of multiculturalism, which can be achieved through meaningful interaction and collaboration among people of diverse racial and cultural background. This study explores how parents understand their children's interactions within multicultural environments. Situated within the interpretive paradigm, it employs a qualitative research design, using data collected through interviews conducted with parents whose children attend diverse Early Childhood Education (ECE) centres. The study is underpinned by Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory (SCT), which highlights the dynamic interplay between personal, behavioural, and environmental factors in shaping individual learning and development. SCT emphasizes the significance of observational learning, imitation, and modelling in the formation of attitudes and behaviours. Children learn by observing their parents, peers, and others in their surroundings. However, the learning process is reciprocal; parents can also gain insights from their children's experiences in diverse settings, which may influence their perspectives on diversity and inform how they model inclusive behaviours and attitudes. Through social interaction and observational learning, children can play an influential role in shaping the behaviours and attitudes of those around them, including their parents. The findings reveal that parents' understandings of the concepts of culture and diversity varied, with some participants demonstrating confusion between the two. Furthermore, the study found that many parents viewed it as highly beneficial for young children from different cultural backgrounds to grow, play, and learn together, believing that such interactions broaden children's perspectives on life.

Keywords: Culture, Diversity, Inclusive Environment, Intercultural Context, Multiculturalism.