If you are a parent of an older child, you know that in what seems like a blink of an eye, your child has grown up. Childhood is certainly a special time, and what we do with our children can affect how they develop and enter into adulthood. In an age where social media and screen time has begun to creep into every family’s daily routine, it’s crucial that we make a concentrated effort to spend devoted time with our children. One of the easiest and least expensive ways to do this is to create memorable family traditions that will stay with your children and can even be passed on to their children.
Traditions can be silly or serious, but it’s the quality time that you spend with your children that matters the most. Traditions can revolve around special holidays, your unique family heritage or even associated with daily life. Encouraging a child to participate in creating these activities is great for a child’s overall development as it activates their imagination and gives them a boost of confidence and a sense of community.
Birthdays:
Before you cut the birthday cake, gather your family to examine old photos of the person celebrating their birthday. It’s a great reminder of how fast children grow up and reminds you to appreciate every moment.
Holidays:
Plan a special dinner, select your holiday décor together or even create a count-down calendar. It’s also fun to collect holiday themed books and keep them on a special shelf so your children can easily access them when the time is right.
Family Culture:
Visit a museum to explore where your family may have originated from. Respect cultural traditions and implement them in your household as it can make children feel like they are a part of a cherished community.
Summer Camp:
Make the first day special by making a breakfast that your child has selected (even ice cream is an option!) For the week leading up to camp, look at a map or visit websites so your child can see all of the different places they will be visiting on field trips.
For Fun:
What matters most to children is quality time with their families. Celebrate the last day of school by going for a special treat, having a “water” party for their friends (think water balloons, bubble machines and more), or even have a day where your child plans what the family will do from sunup to sun down!
At Harbor Child Care we take celebrations and holidays seriously and encourage our families to do the same!
