There is something special about family traditions. The anticipation of opening new Christmas pajamas each year, the aroma of Grandma’s pumpkin pie, the comfort of belonging and sharing common memories with loved ones… traditions are a special way to strengthen families and create strong relationships.
Every Day Traditions:
Young children love the comfort of routine and looking forward to special time with Mom and Dad. Establish patterns when they are young to cultivate traditions and build bonds in your home.
- Secret Love Language: When my sister was young, we created a game where I would say, “I love you infinity plus…” and then I’d add something “good” to that statement, like “I love you infinity plus my entire Barbie collection.” She’d respond with my statement and add one item to it. We’d continue this back and forth trying to remember everything on the list. Somewhere along the way, we decided that nothing surpassed “the cherry on top.” Now, “I love you plus a cherry on top” is our secret love language. As a mom, I’ve started the same game with my own girls. And, we now have a second secret love language in our home. I often tell my girls that I love them more than the moon. My husband, being practical and realistic, says, “Of course, I love you more than a dusty old rock (his definition of the moon).” At which, my girls giggle and start their own list of I love you’s... most recently, “I love you more than all the butterflies, all the rainbows, all the ice cream and all the sparkles.” Whatever your family style may be, start a secret love language with your children when they are young. It will become a family tradition they’ll cherish forever.
- Beloved Books: From the moment I learned I was expecting our first baby, I began to invest in beloved children’s books. I started with many of my own childhood favorites, adding to the collection over the years as the girls expressed their own interests. We made it a ritual to attend story time at the library each week (see our Guide to Preschool Story Time Schedules in KC to find one near you), and we read books before bed each night.
- Family Table: Make it a habit to eat dinner as a family. Ask each family member to share the highlight of his or her day. Little ones may be excited about eating their favorite cereal for breakfast or playing with play dough in the afternoon. Continue the tradition as they grow and create strong family communication now.
They Grow So Fast Traditions:
We often hear “They grow so fast,” and it’s SO true. Start traditions to record the milestones and growth of your children.
- Annual Photos: Every year, take photos in the same place or setting for holidays and special occasions. For example, every Easter we visit the animals on the Plaza. In the summer, we visit the Field of Freedom in Merriam where thousands of flags fly for the 4th of July. At Christmas, we visit the Fairy Princess at the Kansas City Museum. Each year, look back at previous photos and observe how the children have grown.
- Growth Charts: Many families record their child’s height on a wall in their homes. We don’t expect to live in the same home throughout their childhoods, so we have one growth chart for each girl to record her height. They love to see how they’ve grown over the years.
- Baby Books and Blogs: One of the joys of the digital age is that moms don’t have to use pencils and paper unless they want to. Whether you prefer to scrapbook digitally (www.MixBook.com is a great place to get started), write a blog (try www.WordPress.com for starters), craft your own baby book or handwrite a journal, choose the method that works best for your schedule and personality. When your child says something that makes you smile, jot it down. Motherhood is hectic and full of responsibility, so choose something you can do in brief moments of opportunity.
Special Days:
Children look forward to annual traditions on birthdays, holidays and times of achievement. Establish traditions when they are babies, and they’ll look forward to them every year.
- Special Day: Once a month, on the number of the child's birthday (if your child was born on the 17th of August, celebrate on the 17th of each month), honor your child. With infants, celebrate by taking a photo to capture their growth each month. As they get to be older, honor them in new ways. This may mean a special parent/child “date” (visit the park, indoor play place or get ice cream), choosing what is served for dinner or watching favorite movie. For ideas, read "Take Your Child on a Date."
- Family Night: Choose one night a week as “Family Night” for favorite games, movies, outings or activities.
- Count Down the Days: Children love to count down the days to Christmas, birthdays, vacation and other occasions. For Christmas, I wrap 25 Christmas books (collected over the years) and let the girls open one each day to read before bed. We do the same thing with “I Love You” books for Valentine’s Day and borrowed library books about vacation spots. It’s a big treat and it creates anticipation for the occasion.
- Achievements: Purchase or make a “You Are Special” or “Super Job!” plate and serve the honoree’s meal on that plate. When your child learns the alphabet, counts to 10--and later on wins the spelling bee, celebrate achievements in your family with special honors. As a bonus, let the honoree choose dessert that night! Is the honoree under 2? You can’t beat cookies and milk!
- First Birthday: On first birthdays, create a time capsule. Ask guests to contribute letters, photos, newspaper clippings or even receipts. Seal the capsule and save it to open on the child’s 16th birthday. This is a great way to preserve memories.
- All Birthdays: My husband purchases a rose for each year on our daughters’ birthdays and presents them with a card. We keep the cards in their scrapbooks and save the petals for their weddings. For a son, balloons or cookies make fun “bouquets,” or start a collection.
Kansas City mom Kristina Light loves celebrating special memories with her three girls and husband.