As the holidays approach, your family is probably getting ready to celebrate some special traditions, whether it’s making Grandma’s special stuffing, heading to the Christmas tree farm to pick out a tree, or cooking up a batch of latkes together to share with friends on the first night of Chanukah. And whatever these traditions are, it’s important to keep honoring them, even as your kids get older.
HONOR OLD TRADITIONS
Traditions are activities that are repeated again and again and help children feel as if they are part of something special. These yearly, or even daily traditions can help bind families together, especially important during these times of economic uncertainty. Traditions give each member of the family a reason to feel good and important. Even small traditions, such as reading bedtime stories at night or making pancakes on Sunday morning can bring your family closer together. Holiday traditions, especially, are also a wonderful way to unite extended family, whether they’re the cousins you only see in December or the grandparents who live nearby and always host a holiday meal. Kids take great comfort in predictability and enjoy reminiscing about past holidays’ events.
CREATE NEW TRADITIONS
If you’re looking for other traditions to incorporate into your family’s life, you don’t have to wait for the holidays. Weekend walks or hikes, volunteering at soup kitchens or other non-profits, and family outings to the bowling alley or the ice skating rink can all be traditions if you stick to them on a regular basis.
As they grow into teens, your kids may baulk at yearly traditions; my two teens refused to come to the pumpkin farm this year, but no way are they getting out of the journey to select the perfect Christmas tree!
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Start Family Traditions
Holiday Recipes
Christmas Cards
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