Family rituals and traditions are important to the health and well-being of today's busy families.  They promote a sense of identity and a feeling of belonging.  A ritual has some emotional significance while routines are more ordinary.  Traditions are often handed down from generation to generation, are cultural, ethnic, or faith based and therefore connect us to the past.

Rituals are important because they allow us time to communicate, problem solve, and balance our time together.  They provide opportunities to affirm family values, faith and life experiences, and time to celebrate together. As family bonds are weakened by busy lifestyles, families can stay connected only by being intentional about maintaining important rituals and traditions. Kids love and cling to family traditions because they are predictable and stable in an unpredictable world. They remind children that they can depend on something!

Rituals and Traditions can occur annually, monthly, weekly, daily, seasonally, or randomly. To start your own ritual or tradition, assess what you are already doing.  What do you do on each holiday? How do you celebrate Birthdays or Anniversaries?  Do you celebrate the first or last day of school? What are your nightly rituals?

As a family ask: How much do we enjoy them?  Is there emotion involved?  What values are taught? Etc.. Rituals and traditions may need to be revised or redesigned as children get older to meet the needs of your changing lifestyle.

Successful family rituals and traditions should be fun, frequent, flexible, and simple.

Please tell us about your families rituals and traditions so we can share it with others.

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