Simple Traditions for Busy Families to Embrace
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I will never forget the time I asked a friend about her family traditions growing up and she told me they didn’t have any. I was shocked.
But, as I’ve gotten older, I have realized that many families don’t have traditions (or don’t think they do) because they put so much pressure on them.
We tend to think of traditions as being elaborate when they can really be something simple and routine.
For example, growing up, I enjoyed Saturday morning cartoons with Dad. It was a weekend tradition that we kept up until our Saturday mornings became filled with extracurriculars.
And these simple traditions matter!
According to Brett and Kate McKay, “Researchers have consistently found that families that engage in frequent traditions report stronger connection and unity than families that haven’t established rituals together.”
Here are 10 simple and easy traditions to help your family bond and make memories.
TV Night
My family loves a good dinner and TV night. Whether we watch a favorite show together or a movie, we enjoy sitting in front of the TV now and then for a chance to enjoy some quality entertainment together.
Family Walk
Another easy family tradition is the family walk (or family hike). You don’t always have to go to the same place. The key is to do it regularly, so it feels like a tradition.
Game Night
Some families love to play games with one another. If this is you, start planning regular game nights for your family. Have some key things you do each time, such as putting phones away and setting out snacks.
Taco Tuesday
A simple tradition to embrace is enjoying the same meal on the same night each week, such as Taco Tuesday or Meatless Monday. Kids like knowing what to expect – especially if what they are expecting is a meal they love.
Car Ride Chat
With my girls, I have started car ride chats on the way to and from places. I ask the same questions, so they know what to expect. We use the rose and thorn technique. We take turns sharing our daily rose, thorn, and bud. Your rose is the best part of your day, your thorn is something disappointing that happened, and your bud is something that you are looking forward to.
A Go-To Celebratory Restaurant
Many families have a go-to meal tradition without even realizing it. For example, do you tend to cook the same celebratory meal for birthdays or special occasions? Is there a certain restaurant your family likes to go to after a big win? These are traditions!
No Tech Thursday
Try to embrace a tech free day in your home regularly. At first, your kids won’t like the idea. However, if you are intentional about finding fun tech-free ways to spend the day, your kids will come to love it.
Community Service
A great tradition for families is serving their community together. Find an organization that shares your family’s values and volunteer regularly.
Read Together
Even as your kids get older, it is still nice to read together. While you may not read books together before bedtime, you can enjoy audiobooks on road trips or start a parent/child book club where you read books separately and then plan a special dinner to discuss them.
Milestone Trips
This family tradition takes a little more time and effort, but it’s worth it. I’m talking about the milestone birthday trip. We plan a special trip for each kid on milestone birthdays (10, 13, 16, and 18). It’s a special tradition and one our girls look forward to.
