As we’ve come off the Christmas season and are settling back into school, we parents must help our children with the transition. It’s hard not to be a little down about no more sleeping in on school breaks. As I think back to my childhood, I am reminded how my mom always mentioned something we could be looking forward to, which helped my brother and me see beyond the stark “school schedule” that meant early mornings and a rushed school season. My mom might mention a trip to Gran’s house in a couple of weeks or something fun we would be doing in the near future. She helped teach me to be optimistic about what was coming next. Many of the things we looked forward to were family traditions.
I’ve read articles that explain how farmers tend to live healthier and longer lives, and some believe it might be because they are always planning for the next season of seed, plant, and harvest. Like farmers, having family traditions helps give the family its rhythm, something everyone can count on from year to year and look forward to in the near future, making life enjoyable. Further, these planned activities help families bond and feel closer to each other.
Plan Ahead.
As your children grow older, they will recognize and look forward to the traditions you create for your family and may repeat (and improve) those in their own families someday. I know I have and suspect you may, too. For holidays, traditions begin forming, even when your children are quite small. I would recommend putting some thought into it. Looking back, many of our family traditions just happened without planning. If I had to do it over again, I’d research what other families do. There are so many sources online. You may find new and creative ways to make some new traditions that really work for your family. The way I look at it, our children are a gift from God. Yes, life is busy but they only have one childhood. This helps me realize it is worth making it special and meaningful.
Yes, you can change traditions.
When my children were young, in the build-up to Christmas, we always built gingerbread houses and drove to a city to go on a Christmas drive-through park lit up with lights. The kids would have Christmas blankets (that Nana made for them) on their laps, we’d all be eating chocolate-covered Santas, and we had a great time. What I’ve realized is that it is okay to change your family traditions. Recently, we’ve replaced the drive-thru park tradition with a Christmas musical, where the boys put on a suit, we take them to a really nice restaurant to celebrate the season, and we go to the musical. (Frankly, they endure the musical, but eating out makes it worth it for them.) We have fond memories of the traditions we had when they were younger and now have embraced new traditions. It is nice to know this is not a rigid concept but instead a flexible effort to create memorable times together.
Family Tradition Ideas:
Seasonal Ideas . . .
●Back to School Ice Cream Party. Invite your friends and family to meet at your favorite ice cream shop on an afternoon before school starts. It helps your children embrace the change from summer to school by getting excited.
●Fall Party. Let your kids invite a few friends and meet up at the park or your house. Go get a hot apple cider afterwards.
●Christmas. Load up your family and drive through a Christmas lights at the park festival near you.
●End of School Party. Celebrate your children’s hard work. It can be anywhere: your home, local swimming pool, or a park.
●Easter Eggs. Every year dye Easter Eggs.
●Spring Planting. Plant a garden, even a container with tomatoes.
●4th of July Fun. Put sprinklers in your yard for the kids to run through, load up some water balloons, and invite the neighbors for an afternoon of fun.
These are just a few ideas to get you brainstorming. You know what will work for your family. Family traditions do not need to be complicated or stress you out to make them special. Present it to your family as something we do as a family that is really special, and they will follow your enthusiastic lead. A lot of the fun in family traditions is the anticipation of what is coming, so be sure to talk about them before they occur so the children can look forward to them. And of course, take some photos.
As the days of parenting seem to be busy and packed, you will look back and think, where did they go? Family traditions help make family time so special and make treasured memories for years to come.
Blessings to you and yours,
-Jeanne
Copyright 2025
