Make Family Traditions
Why traditions have the power to create such magical and special memories for children and how you can make some of your own. Word count: 683 Read time: 3 mins
Some of our current traditions: Going on bush walks, gifting reward "tickets," playing games like minecraft together, reading stories at bedtime, car trips with music and loud singing!
Do Traditions Matter?
Earlier this year I came across this post by lolo_webb asking mums of grown daughters to share how they kept the bond so strong.
Curiosity got the best of me and I read every damn comment - all 2000 of them at the time - and because I love data I analysed and documented recurring themes / patterns that came up. Here's the top 7 things mum's said they did:
LISTEN - to everything
Respect her boundaries
Do not judge, nag or force advice
Create little traditions for spending time together
Be open to quality chats - whenever
Go on drives (best way to encourage quality chats)
Be a mum first and a friend second (be a safe place and a role model first - don't burden daughters with adult troubles)
Download and read the full booklet here
Notice numbers 4 & 6 are both traditions.
This got me thinking...our best memories really do originate from things we did on a regular basis - not just a once off thing. Traditions matter a whole bunch when it comes to making happy memories.
The Power of Traditions
Parents who make traditions create longer lasting & more meaningful memories because of repetition. Here's why:
1) Repetition properly communicates our deep desire to engage
If you do something one time and you never do it again, one would assume that you did not enjoy that activity very much because if you had really enjoyed it, you'd have tried to do it again?
Traditions literally tell our kids - heck we enjoyed that car trip with you so much I want to do it again! They learn that we love hanging out with them. If we do it often enough, it creates a narrative of deeper connection and love.
2) Repetition is good for memory
The more we do something, the more we remember it, making that activity memorable no matter how small it was.
If we give our kid a massage or tell them affirmations before bed but only do it once or twice, they will not remember. But if you do it almost every night? That solidifies into a precious memory they keep with them forever.
When children look back, the moments they will recall most won't be the random ones, it'll be the traditions.
Need Ideas? Here's Some Cracker Traditions You Can Start With!
These are ones that I do!
Pancakes on Sunday mornings with music
Adventure stories before bedtime - Enid Blyton is our favourite read right now (my kids are 5 ands 7!
Treasure hunts for birthday presents
Celebrate birthdays for a week not just one day. I stretch it out by giving the kids extra special attention and allowances for the week e.g. they can choose dinner or stay up later etc OR, by giving them one small gift each morning
Go on small car trips to the bush - while we're walking we have a tradition of looking out for anything interesting - whether it be a cool stick, leaf or mushroom or whatever
Play loud music on car trips and sing!
Affirmations before bedtime - remind them of all the people in their life that love and care about them, the amazing character traits they posses
Pull them out of school every now and then for R&R at home
Surprise them with an early pick up from school and take them to get a small treat
Play games together on the weekend (I play Minecraft and Mario Kart 8 with my kids)
Final Words
Psychologically, children grow up not just remembering the event or activity, but remembering the feeling of being cherished and enjoyed. Over time, these rituals build a story that our children carry with them into adulthood: I was loved, I belonged, I mattered.
That’s why traditions are so powerful—they’re not about the specific activity, but about the unwavering message of love and connection that we encode into spending time with them.
You can download and print FREE activity ideas and memory makers from my website’s Free Stuff page :)
Lyd
I couldn’t agree More! Traditions are the basis of values, which in turn drive culture and define who we are and how we see ourselves. Love this❣️