As we enter the busy holiday season, I find myself spending time reflecting on all the traditions my family and I have made over the years. As I get older traditions have changed, loved ones have passed, and family members move farther apart.
Growing up there was always something so comforting about the holiday season. Knowing each year that I got to spend Christmas Eve with my family, going to church, and returning to my grandparents’ house to eat Italian wedding soup, pizzelles, and nut rolls. My grandma has since passed and no matter how hard we try to make the wedding soup taste like hers it still doesn’t turn out the same as when she made it.
I take away many traditions from my childhood and while change can be difficult, I see the value and importance of creating traditions as I start my own family. Creating traditions as a family can help provide a sense of security and safety for children.
Doing the same thing or similar activities each year can allow kids to relax, especially during times of significant change. Think about your family gatherings, you probably share lots of memories and tell stories you created throughout your childhood. Traditions provide opportunities and create memories that will be shared for generations to come.
According to the Institute for Family Studies, family traditions help children feel as though they fit in somewhere. And in time, the traditions come to define who each person in the family is, countering alienation, and offering steadiness and certainty.
Traditions don’t need to be big; they can be small and simple. Traditions are about being mindful of the moment. They can be daily, weekly, or fit a particular season. Here are a few ideas to get you thinking about traditions you might like to start with your family.
Daily Traditions:
- Eating dinner as a family and talking about your day
- Asking kids one thing new they learned at school when they get home
- Creating a special bedtime routine
- A family walk
Weekly Traditions:
- A special Sunday dinner
- Friday movie and pizza night
- Regular game nights
- One-on-one date nights between parent and child
- Start a TV show as a family
- Date night with your spouse
Other Family Traditions:
- Vacations or camping trips
- Decorating for the holidays as a family
- Watch your favorite holiday movie each year
- Making cookies during the holidays
Traditions are what make families unique and should be fun to bring us closer to the people we love. When you find something fun or enjoyable try to repeat it. Traditions are memories that will be taken through every phase of life. It’s also important to remember that it’s okay to let go of what no longer serves you or your family.
Kaitlynn Tonn is an OSU Extension Family & Consumer Sciences Educator and may be reached at 330-264-8722 or tonn.13@osu.edu
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This article was previously published in The Daily Record.