[tps_header]I didn’t grow up in a home where we had a lot of money. Raised by a single mom in Brooklyn, we always knew our mom did the best she could with what she had. I hope she knows it was more than enough. We always had food to eat. We always had clothes to wear. We always went to school. And we even had two working televisions in the home. Life was good.
Sure, there were times when I wanted something and I could not get it because of the cost. As a child, I would get disappointed about that. But as I grew older, I understood what life was like for my mother. It all made sense.
I also started to realize that the memories from my childhood that stuck with me the most weren’t memories of the things we had or didn’t have. The memories that mattered most were all connected to family traditions and how those traditions made me feel.
I carried that lesson with me when I started my own family, realizing that what my children will remember most aren’t the material things they get but rather the memories they form as they experience special moments together.
My children are young, but I can already see how some of our family traditions have shaped their lives. Through their actions and words, I know that those precious moments make them feel happy and loved. Nothing matters to us more than that.
And traditions don’t have to be anything fancy or expensive. It’s really the consistency of the simple things that have a positive impact on your children’s lives.
Here are five family traditions that are easy to start and can give your kids happy memories that will last a lifetime.
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1. Special Dinners on Special Nights
Whether it’s taco Tuesdays, pizza night or Sunday dinners with family, shared meals create memories. Children look forward to it as a time to connect with family while enjoying a meal that makes them happy. Many of my own childhood memories revolve around family traditions that involve food. Currently, my family enjoys pizza nights every other week and my children love it. We also add a salad or vegetable to the mix to keep things healthy.
2. Game Nights
When I was a child, my family had this Thanksgiving Monopoly tradition that got a little insane at times, but those games are some of my best memories. Every year, we would pull out the Monopoly game after Thanksgiving dinner and play for HOURS. One year when I was in my early 20s, we played until 5am. It was crazy. Now, there’s no need for your family to have marathon Monopoly games, but I do believe that a simple tradition that involves a game your family loves is great for the entire family.
3. Seasonal Activities
It’s fall, so my kids are asking lots of questions about our annual trip to the pumpkin farm. At ages 6 and 3, I am stunned by how much they remember about last year’s trip. That shows how much of an impression this annual trip has on them. Try to think of a family activity your kids look forward to every season and turn it into a tradition (going to the apple orchard or a roadside stand to buy cider, looking a the fall leaves on a scenic back road, making Halloween decorations or jack-o-lanterns, etc.). I guarantee those memories—and the joy that comes with them—will stay with your kids for a lifetime.
4. Baking Together
I am not sure what it is about baking during the cooler months, but my kids love it. Whether it’s making banana bread or baking Christmas cookies, my little ones can’t wait to get started. Even if baking is not your strength, you can still create great memories by keeping it simple. There is nothing wrong with pre-made dough if doing it from scratch seems like a pain. It’s just about the time spent together, not about the amount of effort that goes into it.
When we know a family member needs a special prayer for something, we all hold hands and pray for that person. Sometimes the kids lead the prayer, sometimes we do, and sometimes we each say something special. It’s a time for us to connect with God as a family and to place the needs of someone else before our own. This is a tradition that makes us a better family and makes my children better people.
[tps_footer]BMWK family, what are some of your favorite family traditions?[/tps_footer]