Last night's dinner conversation was all about my kids' list. No, not their Christmas wish lists, but the list of holiday cookies and treats they want to make this year. Each year in the weeks leading up to the holidays, my kids and I make lots of delicious treats. Part of this tradition is making my grandmother's sugar cookies, buckeyes (think of a peanut butter truffle) and each year we try a new recipe or two. This is just one of our family's traditions.
It is easy to think about family traditions that we celebrate around various holidays throughout the year. These traditions are a valuable way of creating and connecting our children to a larger community. These traditions also teach kids about their culture and family history.
Beyond the traditions we celebrate for religious or national reasons, families can have daily, weekly, monthly, milestone and miscellaneous traditions. Each of these types of traditions helps create and strengthen family bonds. Traditions also teach values and establish a common history within your immediate and extended family. Children experience security and stability through traditions. And these are just a few of the benefits of establishing family traditions!
When my kids were younger each of them had a special song that my husband and I would sing to them before bed. My daughter's have out grown this tradition but my son still needs his song before he goes to sleep each night. My husband, who travels for work, has sung "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" on airplanes, in restaurants and in front of lots of strangers because this tradition is so important to our kids. Another daily tradition that we try hard to have is family dinners. During our family dinners we chat about our day and often check in by sharing our high and low from the day.
Does your family watch football each Sunday? Movie night? Sunday night pizza? Family game night? All of these are good examples of weekly family traditions. One of the monthly traditions at our house has included one on one dates with our kids. Each child got to picked an activity to do with either mom or dad. Sometimes we would go out to dinner or a movie. Other times we would go to the park or on a bike ride. Examples of milestone traditions include celebrating Golden Birthdays, Sweet Sixteen or Quinceanera and First Day of School Pictures.
Think about your family traditions. Which ones do you remember most from your childhood? Have you continued these with your own children? What new traditions have you started? Whatever traditions your family participate in, remember to have fun and that even the smallest traditions have immense value for your children.
Beyond the traditions we celebrate for religious or national reasons, families can have daily, weekly, monthly, milestone and miscellaneous traditions. Each of these types of traditions helps create and strengthen family bonds. Traditions also teach values and establish a common history within your immediate and extended family. Children experience security and stability through traditions. And these are just a few of the benefits of establishing family traditions!
When my kids were younger each of them had a special song that my husband and I would sing to them before bed. My daughter's have out grown this tradition but my son still needs his song before he goes to sleep each night. My husband, who travels for work, has sung "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" on airplanes, in restaurants and in front of lots of strangers because this tradition is so important to our kids. Another daily tradition that we try hard to have is family dinners. During our family dinners we chat about our day and often check in by sharing our high and low from the day.
Does your family watch football each Sunday? Movie night? Sunday night pizza? Family game night? All of these are good examples of weekly family traditions. One of the monthly traditions at our house has included one on one dates with our kids. Each child got to picked an activity to do with either mom or dad. Sometimes we would go out to dinner or a movie. Other times we would go to the park or on a bike ride. Examples of milestone traditions include celebrating Golden Birthdays, Sweet Sixteen or Quinceanera and First Day of School Pictures.
Think about your family traditions. Which ones do you remember most from your childhood? Have you continued these with your own children? What new traditions have you started? Whatever traditions your family participate in, remember to have fun and that even the smallest traditions have immense value for your children.
