A family tradition can simply be defined as any activity you do as a family ritualistically. Traditions are very beneficial to family life because within our traditions, many beautiful memories are made. Traditions help shape our shared identity, strengthen our bonds, and create structure and security. There is even evidence that our family traditions provide an emotional buffer and help children develop resilience.

In the hectic world we live in, it can be hard to find the time to create these important, memorable rituals, and especially difficult to keep it going year after year. As children grow and the family dynamics change, maintaining family traditions can be a challenge. The traditions outlined below are not only simple, but adjustable. These rituals don’t require a lot of planning, time, or a large budget, and the best part is that they grow with your family so that you can enjoy them for all the years that your children are at home.

Storytelling

I began telling stories to my baby in utero as I read Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney over and over as I rubbed my growing stomach. Storytelling boasts many benefits such as enhancing language, growing listening skills, encouraging imagination and creativity, and more. We can begin by looking at board books with our babies while we read or make up stories about the characters we see. This can evolve to reading aloud chapter books such as The Black Stallion or Charlotte’s Web to the Harry Potter series and The Lord of the Rings. From infants to teens and even our adult children, gathering together to read aloud from a great book or to share personal stories is a wonderful way to bring our hearts together and spend quality time with those we love.

Read Aloud Books to Try:

Infants and Toddlers:

  1. Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
  2. Mr. Brown Can Moo! Can You? By Dr. Seuss
  3. Where’s Spot by Eric Hill
  4. The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
  5. Toes, Ears, and Nose by Marion Dane Bauer

Preschoolers and Early Readers:

  1. Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
  2. Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst
  3. Frog and Toad are Friends by Arnold Lobel
  4. The Poky Little Puppy by Janette Sebring Lowrey
  5. The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein

Elementary Chapter Books:

  1. Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White
  2. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
  3. The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
  4. The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner
  5. The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster

Middle School Chapter Books:

  1. The Lightening Thief by Rick Riordan
  2. The Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling
  3. Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
  4. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
  5. Wonder by R.J. Palacio 

High School Chapter Books:

  1. The Lord of the Rings series by J.R.R. Tolkien
  2. The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins
  3. King of the Lost and Found by John Lekich
  4. Holes by Louis Sachar and Vladimir Radunsky
  5. Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan

On page 2: In the Kitchen and Around the Table

In the Kitchen

The benefits of cooking together range from encouraging a healthy relationship with food to giving kids valuable life skills. While it might require a bit of extra time, patience, and clean-up, the payoff is worth it. Young toddlers can help pour and stir, older children can wash and chop, and teens can make the entire meal, so your kids can be in the kitchen with you for many years holding this lovely tradition. Make it fun with music, theme nights, and staples they can count on like Sunday morning pancakes.

Great Family Recipes to Try:

Chicken Noodle Casserole from All Recipes

Ingredients:

4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves

6 ounces egg noodles

1 can condensed cream of mushroom soup

1 can condensed cream of chicken soup

1 cup sour cream

Salt to taste

Pepper to taste

1 cup crumbled buttery round crackers cup butter

Directions:

  1. Poach chicken in a large pot of simmering water. Cook until no longer pink in center, about 12 minutes. Remove from pot and set aside. Bring chicken cooking water to a boil and cook pasta in it. Drain. Cut chicken into small pieces, and mix with noodles.
  2. In a separate bowl, mix together mushroom soup, chicken soup, and sour cream. Season with salt and pepper. Gently stir together cream soup mixture with the chicken mixture. Place in a 2 quart baking dish.
  3. Melt butter in a small saucepan, and remove from heat. Stir in crumbled crackers. Top casserole with the buttery crackers.
  4. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for about 30 minutes, until heated through and browned on top.

Butterfinger Cookies by Popsugar

Ingredients:

1/2 cup butter, softened
­­3/4 cup sugar
2/3 cup brown sugar
2 egg whites
1 1/4 cup chunky peanut butter
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
1 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
5 (2.1 oz.) Butterfinger candy bars, chopped

Directions:

  1. In bowl, cream butter & sugars.
  2. Add egg whites; beat well.
  3. Blend in peanut butter and vanilla.
  4. Combine flour, soda & salt; add to creamed mixture and mix well.
  5. Stir in candy bar pieces.
  6. Shape into 1 inch balls & place on greased baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees F for 10-12 minutes or until brown.
  7. Cool on wire rack. 

Game Night

Family game night is fun for the whole family and can start with simple matching games with toddlers and evolve to Chutes and Ladders, then to Clue, on to Ticket to Ride, and then to Dominion. There are so many board games and card games to choose from that you’ll never run out of options! As your children grow, the games can become more complex and strategic, and this is a great way to build positive skills in children such as emotional intelligence, perseverance, and problem-solving. 

Games to Try:

Blokus

Ravenburger Labyrinth

Dragonwood

Race to the Treasure

The Sneaky Snacky Squirrel Game