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Some of the best family memories can be centered on traditions. Traditions provide a predictable and familiar experience. Traditions don't need to be weekly, monthly or yearly. They can just be highly anticipated events that happen during a child's life. Traditions are more about predictability than frequency. Family traditions can remind us of our ancestors, help give family members a sense of belonging, enhance family values, and bond our families together. We hope you use one or more of the ideas below to begin your own family tradition! |
Birthday |
(Also see our Birthday Page for themes, games, gifts and more) |
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Every kid should have at least one SPECIAL DAY a year. Below are some ideas and traditions to help make a birthday special. The night before the big day, have the "birthday fairy" decorate your child's bedroom door with balloons, a birthday poster or a streamer over the door. It's a nice surprise for the birthday morning.
Play a birthday song for wake up music. Birthday Songs: Games & Fun for Your Party! Decorate the kitchen table with balloons, birthday tablecloth etc. or put a birthday streamer on the kitchen entrance. Allow the birthday child to sit at the head of the table. Or you could serve them breakfast in bed! Use a birthday plate ( click here Waechtersbach Happy Birthday Plate Let the birthday child wear a special birthday shirt (see some on our Birthday Page) or a crown on their special day. Use a keepsake birthday book (shown below or click here Your Birthday Book: A Keepsake Journal
Mom and dad can write a letter to the birthday child each year on their birthday. Write about how much you love them, what happened throughout the year, etc. Take a picture of mom and dad and the birthday child together to attach to the letter. Save the letters as keepsakes over the years. Birthday books are great way to prepare kids for their birthday (especially when it is about sharing, inviting guest, eating too much cake etc.) You can also read a different book each week beginning the month before their birthday. This gives an excuse to read together, gets kids get excited for their birthday and makes a great tradition. Make a birthday "countdown" calendar for the week before the birthday. Put stickers on it until the big day! Add one responsibility and one privledge for each year of a child's birthday (i.e "now that you are 5 you can answer the phone (privledge) and put the forks and spoons away"(responsibility) Tweens think it is really cool to have their room or house covered in toilet paper (at least once in their life), and it's even better when their friends surprise them and do it. Invite a few of their friends to do the dirty deed, take pictures or a video of the action and laughter (so the birthday child can see the fun that occurred while he/she slept). If you do this really early in the morning, everyone can wake up the birthday child to see the surprise and then go to breakfast. After the breakfast and fun is over, everyone gets to come back to clean up! Teens might like a breakfast (not too early) or dinner at a nice restaurant. If you choose the same place every year, it creates a tradition of its own. Instead of more toys! Give birthday coupons..
Parents can write a letter to the birthday child naming the milestones and accomplishments for that year. Save them in their memory box and read each birthday together. |
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Play Hooky Day |
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| Between work and other obligations or committments, life can be hectic and the time spent with your child can fall by the wayside. Take a full day off commitments and dedicate it to your child. It will be a memory neither of you forget.
There are so many things to do (see our Boredom Busters page - let your child look through the list and pick out one idea together) it doesn't have to cost alot of money if you are creative. What children crave most is time with their parents. So sleeping in, cooking a special breakfast, hanging out at home playing games, watching movies, reading books, a trip to the park for lunch and the playground, are all simple ideas. If you feel creative Hook a rug take on a Cooking/Baking project teach crosstitch or needlepoint, put together A model airplane,play or just Learn more about each other , work on or Paint by number. See more ideas on our Boredom Busters page or Creativity for Kids. Clear the day of work and chores and mark it on the calendar a "fun day" . Your kids will remember the day you both "played hookey" together. |
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Learn Something Day | ||||||
Use a day to spend all day learning about a specific subject.. It could be manners, Safety, Being more confident in yourself, learn about the Presidents, Bugs/Insects, Money. Example - using Manners - Teaching manners doesn't have to be boring are always "correcting or lecturing". Plan a day to spend all day focusing and teaching manners. Be prepared for your day by having movies, books, websites about Manners, examples ready. Post a sign on the refrigerator, bulletin board or calendar "Today is Manners Day". Recognize and acknowledge all day when someone is using good manners (i.e. you used good manners when you said thank you, it was good manners to share with your sister, the lady at the store was kind when she allowed us in front of her in the line). Also provide examples when someone is not using good manners.( Dude That's Rude is a fun look at typical forms of rudeness and makes them totally uncool). Make the subject fun or turn it into a game (i.e. dress up and have a formal dinner showing good table manners, take turns to talk and everyone else must keep quiet...which teaches good "listening" manners, make a seek and find with words like "thank you, please, share", find pictures in magazines or draw pictures of examples of someone using good manners, award a penny for each time someone in the family is using good manners...see who has the most pennies at the end of the day, take pictures of the kids using manners or being kind to each other....post on the refrigerator (eyelevel) as a "reminder" in the future etc. Spending one day on a specific topic is a good way to create a family tradition of "learning something" together and a sure way for the kids to remember whatever it is that you wanted to teach. |
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Get Organized Day! |
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| In January, after the holidays are behind you...plan a day that the whole family can get organized. Pump up the team like you are going out for the start of a game. Cheer everyone on as they gather old toys, clothes, household items to donate. Each family member cleans their bedroom, drawers, closets! Make a pile and take to your favorite charity. Celebrate the teams victory by ending the day ordering a pizza for a job well done. Books and Products to Help Get Organized , Primary Backseat Car Organizer |
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Family Game Night |
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| Host a card, puzzle or game night once a month with your own family. Each month have a different family member pick the game and snack to be served. Write it on the calendar so nothing gets in the way! See the cooperative games, family fun games, conversation cards and "The Ticket Store Game" (which rewards for good behavior) on our Family Game Page | ||||||
Family Activity Night |
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| Instead of a game night, plan a family activity night. Activites might include reading a book together (see our Books Page), watching a movie, cooking (let the kids join in by using their own cookbook), putting on a talent show or Puppet Show, playing Legos, a family comedy night (see joke books) Puting on a Magic Show. Allow each family member to take a turn in choosing the activity (see more ideas on our Boredom Busters Page) | ||||||
Family Themed Meal |
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| Take the family to another part of the world – without having to leave the dining room. From Germany, Italy, Mexico, Greek, or Thailand, there are countless meal options waiting to be explored. Help set the mood by playing authentic music, hanging decorations, and learning some foreign phrases Foreign Language books/DVDs If you are not up for cooking, pick a restaurant to use the food and time together to learn something about other parts of the world. | ||||||
Earth Day! |
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| Pack up the kids and head out to a park or the woods where you can walk and enjoy nature together. Or, plant a garden together of a few flowers, herbs, or vegetables. See our Green Families Page | ||||||
Lost Tooth |
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| Tooth Fairy - Everyone knows about the tooth fairy. But you can add a twist to the tooth fairy. Rather than giving money when a child leaves his tooth under the pillow...choose a new tooth brush or a book about caring for teeth or going to the dentist. Wouldn't the tooth fairy want children to take care of their teeth? Books/Tooth Brush from Tooth Fairy | ||||||
Date Night with the Kids |
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| A one-on-one date night with your child can create alot of fun and a life long memory. Scheduling this time shows them that they are more important than anything else on your calendar. Use the time to communicate (asking questions about their interest), listen (giving them your undivided full attention), working on an activity together (even just putting together a puzzle, playing a game, building a model airplane, or going to dinner). It can be as formal as dressing up and going to a nice restaurant or as simple as a ride to get an ice cream and sitting down to talk. If your child is a teen, stay away from "their terratory" where they might run into their peers. Although deep inside a teen wants this one-on-one time, they might be embarrassed in front of their peers. If you want to take date night and expand it...how about a weekend road trip? (Train ride, fishing weekend, create a spa weekend at bed & breakfast...bring the nail polish, bubble bath, hair treatment Put on a fashion show). | ||||||
Family Date Night |
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| Make a date night for the whole family. You don't have to leave the house or spend alot of money. Just block out the time on the calendar and write "family date night". Create a special meal, letting the kids pretend they are at a restaurant. Let them make menus, sit in the dining room or make a formal setting with tablecloth and candles. You can dress up fancy and let the kids be the servers. Make a movie night, Book night (read a classic together), game night, dance club night (everyone dresses up, make a smoothie bar, and put on the music and everyone dances!). Kids also like putting on talent shows, Puppet Show, Magic Show or skits. Make the popcorn, drinks and let the kids be the entertaiment. | ||||||
Thankful Book |
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| Make a thankful book for your family. It can be as simple as using a three ring binder with a picture of your family on the front cover. Whenever someone receives a blessing and feels grateful, have that person write it down and date it. You can make a page for each family member or create it by date. It can include things like good report card, promotion for mom or dad, but don't forget to jot down the simple things like a beautiful day or eating the best tasting ice cream ever as a way to remind the kids that they can be grateful for everyday events if they open their eyes to them. Keep it at hand so it doesn't get forgotten about and can easily be accessed (in the kitchen, in the car, etc.). Make a ritual of writing in it. It can be done once a week after Sunday dinner, nightly at bedtime, or just left out to be used "whenever". Thanksgiving is a great time to go through the book and read together as a family. | ||||||
Summer |
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| Host a carnival for the kids with all the family members (Cousins, Aunts, Uncles, Grandparents) Play games like potato sack races, egg toss or spoon and egg game, duck pond, talent show, etc. See some ideas on our Game Page. If you have an ice cream truck that drives the neighborhood, contact them to visit your carnival. If not available, serve sno-cones, homemade ice cream or or make your own cool treats. See Carnival Supplies or Circus Ideas | ||||||
First Day of School |
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Sometime the week before school starts, have a back to school party. You can do it as a family or with friends (stay up a little late, take off work to have a special day doing something really fun with the kids, or invite friends over for a play date). Use a portion of the time to discuss expectations for the upcoming school year. If you have young children, read books about starting (or afraid of) school etc. on our Parenting Page or if homework may be an issue in the upcoming year, see some Books on homework. But use the largest portion of the day just having the last hoorah before school starts! If you have a back to school party with friends, check out some ideas Back to school party ideas. Make a school count down jar which is just a jar decorated with school stickers and the words "count down for school". Two weeks before school starts, fill a jar with 14 pieces of small candy (laffy taffy, M&M, small cookie) then each day allow your child to eat one piece. If you want to keep it simple, make a tradition for taking the kids out for ice cream the night before school starts. Also a good opportunity to talk about school expectations. Make a "time capsule" a few nights before school writing down who your child's teacher is, who his/her friends are, weight/height, what activities they are going to be involved in, their favorite book. Make breakfast special the first day of school. Cook a big breakfast, go out to breakfast or pick up donuts. Anything out of the ordinary to make the day special. Recreate that special breakfast year after year on the first day of school. Walk your child to school (or home) the first day if possible. The walk will become a meaningful way to spend time together and create the 1st day of school memories. Sometime in the year if possible, ride bikes to or from school together. Take a picture of the kids with their backpacks and new school clothes, it makes a great keepsake. Have kids hold up their fingers for the grade they are entering or write it on a paper and hold it up. Save it in a school memories book (below) and each year the night before school look back through the prior years pictures. Have a special treat ready for the kids when they come home from school (home backed cookies smell great for when the kids walk in the door!) Source: pinterest.com via Brittany on Pinterest Use Smilebox to send the pictures to family, friends, make slideshows, memory books, or in an email.
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Family Sports Event |
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| Plan one day a year doing a sporting event together. It could be ice skating, a family soccer or football game, summer volleyball game, putt-putt golf or bowling. If you prefer, pick a professional game to go together. Do it about the same time each year, so when that month arrives, everyone is planning on it. It's a good opportunity to talk about competition and/or sportsmanship with kids. (see some books on sportsmanship or sports products on our Sports Page) | ||||||
Family Vacation |
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| Plan a vacation together as a family. If funds are tight and you can't afford a trip to the mountains or beach, keep it simple and go camping (even in the backyard works!) stay at a hotel with a pool a few miles from your house or visit the city next to you. Pack up some games, snacks and swimsuits. The kids won't know the difference if you went 20 miles or 2,000 miles if everyone is in the mindset to have fun. The important thing is that you "get away" from the day-to-day both physically and mentally. See some Travel games & products If do you travel, let the kids take pictures (kid's cameras) and write in a travel journal of what they did or saw. It makes a great keepsake! | ||||||
Greeting Cards |
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| The Christmas holidays are usually packed with things to do. Squeezing in time to do a family picture, addressing and sending holiday cards adds more stress to a hectic schedule. Change things around and send a family picture before Thanksgiving (with a note... we are so thankful to have you in our life) or at Valentine's Day (i.e. The Smith family just wanted to tell you we love you!). Doing before or after the holidays takes one less thing for you to do off your list during the month of December. Have the kids help with home-made cards or make it even simplier and use egreetings. Visit Smilebox.com and create egreetings with your photos and videos, plus add your own music. | ||||||
Reading Jar |
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| Get kids excited about reading by using a reading jar. Buy an oversized glass jar and let the kids decorate it with stickers, ribbons etc. For each book that is read, allow the child to place one stone inside the jar. Another option would be to use a smaller jar and fill with pennies, dried beans, or buttons for each page that is read. When the jar is full, the child gets a special treat (trip to the ice cream store or playground, or a small toy). See some Books on our book page, as well as other ideas to get kids interested in reading. | ||||||
Bedtime Ritual |
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Shortly before it is bedtime announce that it is bedtime. After baths, pjs are on, clothes ready for the next day, hide a book in your child's bedroom or somewhere in the house. The child searches for it and when he finds it, parent and child read together. See some bedtime books (or afraid of the dark books) See more on bedtime in our article How to Put Your Child to Bed Without Tears |
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Prayer/Thanksgiving |
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| Family prayer together is a great tradition. Attending service together, praying before a meal or at the end of the day. Begin teaching children at an early age that prayer is part of everyday. Use a prayer stool or mat and pray together at bedtime. See our article Teaching Children to be Grateful Also our Families Giving Back page. | ||||||
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to serve the birthday child their favorite cake or dinner. To keep the the plate "special" only use on a birthday and use it every year. For other special events throughout the year, (like a good report card or winning soccer goal, doing a good deed) you can use the "You Are Special Plate" (see here 
). The plate makes a great baby shower gift to start the tradition for another family.
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to write down birthday memories. The following year, get out the book and go down memory lane. Kids love this! Include pictures showing who attended the party and the gifts received (see ideas under the Thank You section on the 
Halloween |
Pumpkin Fairy - What to do with all that Halloween candy? What a great opportunity to start a Halloween tradition. After the kids have collected their candy, allow them to pick out several of their favorite pieces. Make a family bowl to save a few pieces for a later date. Then, tell them that the "Pumpkin Fairy" will be visiting your house while the children sleep. The kids should hide their extra candy (or leave in a pile on the kitchen table). They can include a note or a colored picture (similar what they might do for Santa Claus). During the night the Pumpkin Fairy drops by to visit and take the extra candy and she replaces it with a small toy. This will save lots of fights over candy and the kids will be excited to get a toy. Year after year, the kids will know the Pumpkin Fairy will be visiting Halloween night. Make Halloween Ghost from your child's footprint. Decorate it as a keepsake (like below) or make a new one year-to-year as their feet grow to see how the ghost get bigger!  Source: minermoments.blogspot.com via Liz on Pinterest
Trunk or Treat. Don't want to let the kids trick or treat with strangers? Host a Trunk or Treat at school or in your neighborhood with the families that you know. Everyone parks their cars on an empty lot. Open the car trunk which holds a bowl full of candy. One of the family members stays with the car to hand out candy, the other takes the kids to from car to car to trick or treat. A safe way to have lots of fun! Phantom Ghost - Copy and paste the poem below onto a sheet of paper (or Halloween paper). Print off . Make up a small basket or bag of Halloween candy. Drop off the basket on the front porch of a neighbor or family member. Be careful not to let them see you. The game is more fun when it’s a surprise. Kids love this! If you don't want to fill with all candy, use a few Halloween stickers, tatoos, madlib, book, DVD, buddy bans see these things Halloween DVDs Halloween games (buddy bans, stickers) Halloween books or Scary Stories
Kids love watching the same Halloween movie or book year after year. Turn off the lights and use Halloween candles/blacklights/light/flashlight or scented candles then make some popcorn or Halloween treats (Rice Krispy Treats with candy corn, candy corn and peanuts, apples and carmel or eyeball punch see baking below) and watch Halloween DVDs . Play some Halloween games. Read Halloween books or Scary Stories Several weeks before Halloween let the kids decorate the inside or outside of the house with you. Simple things like Halloween mats, stickers or pumpkins that light up really get kids excited that Halloween is coming and proud of their home. Search for cute personalized Halloween products....
Every morning the week before Halloween print or write one Halloween joke and read it at the breakfast or dinner together Halloween Jokes.It's a sure way to get the kids in the Halloween spirit. Decorate Halloween cookies or treats Halloween Baking If you have a dog, dress him/her up for Halloween. Trick or Treaters love seeing a dog in a Halloween costume. They will be back next year to see the dog's new costume. Shop at PetSmart.com Kids away at college or out of town? You're never too old to enjoy Halloween treats. Send some homemade cookies in a halloween box or treat bag or order some here Halloween treats/baskets or shop for Halloween party favors at Beau-coup.com
Take a picture of the kids in their Halloween costume standing next to a pumpkin they decorated, or write the year on the pumpkin with permanent marker or paint. Great for remembering the year when looking back at photos. Click on the picture above Halloween greetings/scrapbooks/slideshows. Make it a Family Halloween WeekendTraditionSpend the weekend before Halloween making it a family Halloween weekend! Read Halloween Books , bake Halloween treats using Halloween cookbooks & cookie cutters, watch scary Halloween DVDs. Have a pumpkin rolling contest (what family member can roll it the farthest), make some green slime (recipe on our Halloween page). See more games on our Halloween page. A Special Halloween Morning Tradition and Surprise!Halloween morning have the kids walk into the kitchen to hear Scary music playing and a table covered with a black or orange table cloth with black or orange Halloween candles/blacklights/lights. Breakfast can be as simple as pancakes with orange and black sprinkles, pumpkin pancakes or muffins, orange juice in a Halloween cup. Halloween stickers on the table are added fun along with Halloween Jokes. See more Halloween gifts, game ideas, safety tips CJKidz Halloween
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or make scary desserts like mud cupcakes topped with Gummi worms, spider Oreo cookies. Serve Eyeball punch for drinks on Halloween night.ChristmasAlso see our Christmas Games Page for School Parties or Family Get-Togethers, as well as cute Christmas crafts and ideas! |
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| Set out one of these cookies & milk set for Santa and his reindeer. | ||||
Family Day - Mark your calendar early to put a "family day" on the calendar. Don't let anything get in the way. Go together as a family to pick out the tree, watch Christmas Movies, read Christmas books, bake cookies, play games, put together a Christmas puzzle or do holiday activities (coloring books, mazes, seek and finds) . Leave the puzzle out on the table and put together a few pieces everyday . Drink hot chocolate, pick out or make a family Christmas ornament. Shop for a family present (like a board game or video game that everyone would play). Pack a cooler and drive around town to see the Christmas lights. Set the mood - Play Christmas Music at bedtime or when the kids come home from school to get them in the Christmas mood. Christmas music not only sets the mood for kids, but can drown out the sounds parents wrapping presents or setting out gifts on Christmas Eve. Decorate a a basket or box with Christmas paper or material. Fill the basket with Christmas books and several weeks before Christmas begin reading a Christmas book together at bedtime. Let the child pick from the basket (or box) the book he would like to read.
Wrap the doorway to the room that has the tree. Kids can break through the wrapping paper to get into the room Christmas morning to see the tree and gifts. Record a holiday book - These recordable books are a great Christmas tradition. Mom, dad or grandma, grandpa can record a page and read/listen to the book each year. For family members out of town, have each family member can read a page and send the book to a child out of town. Also lots of fun for older children to read and record their own voice and listen to each Christmas! Recordable books Start a Christmas Journal -Keep a Christmas Journal writing down details of your Christmas holiday throughout the years. Pull it out each year and reminisce together. It makes a great baby shower gift (get the tradition started with the first baby), or hostess gift for the holidays. Attend a Holiday Show - Attend a live Christmas Play or Show and go together as a family (A Christmas Carol, Nutcracker, Rocketts, Christmas concert) If you can't find a live show, go to the movies and see a Christmas movie. Eat out or get a special treat (hot chocolate, cookies, dessert) together after the show. Remember the reason for the season - Attend Church services together, follow up with a special morning breakfast (an egg casserole, make homemade donuts, or something that you might ordinarily cook. During the holidays, set out the nativity scene together, read the story of Jesus birth from the Bible and reflect on the true meaning of Christmas. Hold off on putting baby Jesus in the manger until Christmas Eve and make it an event itself. Get a birthday cake and sing Happy Birthday to Jesus. 6 Happy Birthday Jesus Party Hats Decorate an ornament - Let each family member decorate an ornament for the tree or make one family ornament. Hang on your own tree or give as a gift for family member or friend.
Decorate the house together - Let kids help with the decorating. Kids love getting out the ornaments and decorations (see some Lillian Vernon Holiday Gifts & Decorations) Recycle children's artwork into a Christmas ornament - Save some the children's artwork throughout the year and turn it into a Christmas ornament (just tie on a string, or shrink it in size if necessary). Host a baking day - or gingerbread house decorating day! Invite over family members or friends. Each person can bring a ready to be cooked batch of cookies or ingredients for the gingerbread house. Take pictures, put them in a book and bring them the following year. Host a Christmas Movies, Christmas book reading, or play games day - take turns with other family members or friends to each host a day (or a few hours) where the kids can watch Christmas movies, read Christmas books, play games, make a Christmas craft together. Each child can bring their favorite movie, or book to read together. While you host the event the other parents can Christmas shop or wrap presents. Then it's their turn to return the favor. Start a stocking hunt - If your family has to travel out of town for the holidays, have a stocking hunt or open one present prior to leaving for the trip so that you have some "alone time" for just your own family. A stocking hunt is also a great way for anxious children to receive a small gift prior to Christmas. Give a family calendar - Throughout the year, take a picture of the kids or family one day of the month (January - in the snow, February with an Valentine candy or I love you note, etc.) put together the pictures to make a calendar for grandma and grandpa as a Christmas gift. Each picture will reflect the month. If you forget to do it each month, stage it/reinact it(put on swimming suits for a summer month etc.). Have a family shopping day - let the kids earn money by doing Chores a few months before Christmas. Teach them to save it (use a bank or decorate a holiday money jar). Then use it to buy a little something for other family members on a special shopping day. You will be surprised how generous and considerate brothers and sisters can be to each other. Help a family - and give gifts to a family less fortunate. It can be someone you know that may be struggling financially. Anonymously send a gift card so they can do shopping for their own family. You don't ever have to mention that you sent it. No gifts please - In the book Raising Charitable Children, Weisman(the author) talks about a grandmother of three who, when asked what she wanted for her birthday, told her grandchildren to "Do something for someone else, draw a picture of what you did, and then tell me the story. The same idea can be applied for Christmas. If you don't need or want gifts for Christmas, suggest this idea. Give your time - If you are struggling financially and can't afford gifts, give your time. Make a coupon for for cleaning the garage, washing the house windows, cleaning the car, babysitting, shoveling snow or cutting grass. Older people also enjoy gifts of time. Coupons could include a home cooked meal at your house, a ride in the country, a walk in the park. Have the kids make a homemade gift -Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, Babysitters, even siblings love getting a homemade gifts from a child. Suggest the kids Decorate a T-shirt, pillowcase, or tote bag with fabric paint markers or tye-dye Shirt/Pillowcase products, Decorate a wooden or acrylic picture frame with paint markers, stickers or buttons/accessories Picture Frame Products, Latch hook a rug or make a pillow Rugs & Pillowcase kits, Make candles Candle making , Make a pot holder Pot holder. Have a Christmas slumber party - On Christmas Eve or one night during the holidays let the kids (possibly mom and dad too) pull out the sleeping bags and have a family sleepover in one of the rooms of the house. Give new pajamas for the event or a Christmas tshirt to sleep in. Read some Christmas books or pick one story like Twas the Night Before Christmas (AniMotion) Peppermint Pig - Peppermint Pig Combination Pack Pictures with Santa - make a day of it to go visit Santa (take the kids or pets) to get a picture with Santa. Put the pictures year after year in the in the Christmas Journal Kids love Elf on the Shelf.The tradition -How does Santa know who is naughty or who was nice? The answer, a small pixie-elf. He arrives around the holidays, usually at Thanksgiving. His sole responsibility is to watch the children's behavior and report it to Santa each night. The next morning after the children awake, they can discover the elf returns from the North Pole and is resting in a new and different place in the house. Most children race out of bed to try and be the first to spy him in his new position. They can't touch him but can talk to him. It helps children to better control themselves. All it takes is a gentle reminder that the "elf is watching," for bad behavior to be modified. |
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Need a hostess gift for the holidays?
Other hostess gift ideas? Elf on the Shelf (above), Santa Cookies and Milk Plate (above), Christmas Memory Book(above), Homemade candy, flameless candle (above) & the peppermint pig (above) Christmas soap (above). Search more ideas |
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New Year's Eve or Day |
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Use New Year's Eve or Day to look back at the family pictures throughout that year. If you made family videos watch those together. Start a New Year's Tradition? See the Peppermint Pig - Peppermint Pig Combination Pack Make a New Year's Eve/Day activity/tradition - Make a family time capsule. Each child or family member can write down their favorite event, movie, activity, book, friend, etc. Write the date and year and take a picture of the family together or put each child's individual picture on a page they create. Let your kids make a New Year's resolution box. Decorate a small box with pretty paper, stickers and their name. Ask them to write down a few resolutions for the coming year. Occassionally throughout the New Year to check their progress. Have a family fun night on New Year's Eve. Each year get a new game as a family Christmas gift and play it along with other favorite Fun Games. Get out the sparkling grape juice and fancy (or plastic champagne) glasses to make a family toast prior to bedtime. If your kids are old enough to stay up to midnight, do the countdown together and go outside at midnight and hit pots and pans together or get some other noice makers to ring in the New Year. A tradition kids will certainly remember! Do you have a family goal? If not, the New Year might be a time to set one together. Could be saving for something specific for the family (new electronic game to play together, TV, vacation, etc.). Make sure the goal is specific so everyone is clear of what it is and how each person can help attain it. Write down the goal and make sure it is displayed (words or a picture) somewhere that everyone can see it regularly. Set a time frame and check on the progress (once a week, possibly on the same day of the week to make a routine of it). This is a great way to teach children the importance of teamwork and setting, monitoring and achieving goals. Books for goal setting Other family goals: Using good Manner in the New year See Books on teaching Manners Playing a family game See our games pageor doing a family activity once a month See our Boredom Busters page (change the activity once a month, like putting together a puzzle, make a craft, build a model airplane, etc.) Saving - see teaching tools for Money Eating Healthy/Exercising Being Charitable See our Families Giving Back Reading a book together as a family once a week See our Books Page (let family members take turns picking out the book) or watch a family movie together Family Movies Being Thankful - Make a thankful book (see above)
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Valentine's Day |
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Make a trail of hearts to take your kids or spouse to their gift Valentine's morning. Making a tradition of buying new pink or red pajamas, baking Valentine cookies or candies, or reading an I love you book together are a few traditions. A special breakfast like heart shaped pancakes or going out to breakfast together is a nice way to start the day. The I love you books make great gifts even for teenagers. You can buy an I love you book each year and tape a note on the inside that says something like "You are never too old to know that I Love You". They can collect and pass on to their children. A jar filled with hugs and kisses candies can be decorated for mom, dad or kids. Just add a note "Hugs and Kisses from _____ because I love you". A simple inexpensive gift. I Love You Books - Great for Valentine's Day see below or More I love you books
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and read the same story each year. Use a Christmas pillowcase ( see
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- The pig is a symbol of health, prosperity and happiness. Begin a tradition to put the peppermint pig in the cloth bag and smash with a hammer so that everyone can share the pieces in hopes of good fortune for the coming year. This makes a nice Christmas gift or hostess gift.
Easter |
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| Start a tradition with the kiddos that lasts a lifetime. Set out a plate filled with carrots for the Easter bunny or use Easter pillow cases the week before the bunny's arrival. See more games, ideas and traditions on our Easter Page | |
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General Traditions |
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| Food is a great way to mark an occassion or start a new one (serve the same type food for each holiday, allow the birthday child to pick his/her birthday meal). | |
| A repeated product or gift came be a great tradition. For example some familes buy new pajamas or slippers for each family member for Christmas. Others buy a new pair of shoes or backpack each school year. | |
