Make Time for Traditions This Year
Let’s be honest. Unless you are an author of dystopian fiction, 2020 isn’t anything like you imagined it would be when you were making New Year’s resolutions last January. For most, it has been a tough year full of angst, which is why we are looking forward to some holiday cheer and the comfort of favorite family traditions!
Traditions, whether they are generations old passed down through your family or ones you have made with friends, are rituals that hold a special place in your heart and help you connect with loved ones, past and present. Those memories helped shape your family narrative and who you are, which is why it is important for you to share your family traditions and intentionally make new ones with your own children.
Research has shown that children who have a strong family connection and knowledge of their family history are typically more self-confident, better adjusted and have fewer behavioral problems than those who don’t. The upholding of traditions and rituals tell children about their family, where they came from, and the values that are important to their family. All of these factors help shape the child’s identity and provide a sense of security.
While it is the season for holiday traditions, your family probably has established a few customs throughout the year that you may not have even realized count as traditions. Visiting the same vacation spot year after year, attending a religious service each weekend, or having dinner at Grandmas every Sunday are all great traditions. Keep them up, even as the children get older and family time is encroached upon by school, sports and other activities.
Child development experts, such as Ellen Galinsky, founder of the Families and Work Institute, recommend that you create everyday connection traditions like reading a book before bed and safe guarding family dinners as these are the happy childhood memories that benefit children even after they are grown. Well, those and eating too much pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving!
We have some ideas below to help you create year-long memories as well as ones special to holidays.
Ideas for Creating Family Traditions
Plan a yearly family camping trip.
Establish one night a week as family movie night.
Keep an annual scrapbook with mementos such as photos, flowers discovered on walks, theatre tickets, restaurant receipts and journal entries that capture the memories. Have all family members add to it throughout the year.
Celebrate summer and the shortest night of the year with a summer solstice party.
On the flipside, celebrate winter on winter solstice by making pinecone treats to help the squirrels and birds eat during the cold season.
Make the last day of school special with an ice cream treat or ceremony where you clean out the backpacks and dance for joy!
See more ideas from The Everymom.
Holiday Traditions to Share with Your Family
Enforce the “Parent Tax” on all Halloween candy where you get your 10 favorite treats as payment.
Create a daily list each day in November that captures what each member of your family is thankful for.
Designate time around the holidays when your family volunteers or performs a service together. Ideas are working at a food bank, start a canned food drive, pick up garbage in your favorite park, and make sandwiches for the homeless.
Watch your favorite holiday movies.
Make your own candles for a menorah.
Choose a favorite book to gift to your loved ones.
Buy a Christmas tree together and then make it a family activity to decorate it.
Make and paint your own dreidels.
Check out these websites for additional ideas to add to your family traditions.
