Miniware's Family Traditions:
Every family has holiday traditions that they look forward to each year. In our family, we celebrate with a blend of cultural traditions like Swedish Christmas Saffron Bread and Japanese Shabu-Shabu. We have been incorporating our son in family traditions since he was a baby and will probably continue to do so for many years to come. We love having our child be a part of our traditions, and want to help you create lasting holiday traditions for children too.
How To Make Lasting Holiday Traditions For Children:
Incorporating children in the preparation of traditional family foods during the holidays is a great way to make special memories with your kids. But more than that, it’s also a way to share your family’s history, from parents and grandparents to ancestors long gone. Talking to them about where traditions originated from and what they represent can help give your child a sense of identity and connection to a larger sense of family and culture.
It’s even better when these traditions align with your children’s interests and special abilities. It provides a self-esteem boost and a little extra attention during a season when it's easy to feel overlooked at big family gatherings and during the holiday hustle-and-bustle. Whether you have a gentle artist or an active athlete, there are all kinds of holiday tasks that can be fun and make them feel included.
Kitchen Tasks: Even small children can help prepare holiday treats and meals alongside you in the kitchen. Not only does involving young children in cooking and baking provide them fun memories but with valuable life skills as well. Boys and girls alike love helping in the kitchen! And, who knows? Maybe you have a future Master Chef in the house!
Some kitchen tasks appropriate for children include:
- Washing and peeling vegetables.
- Dumping measured ingredients into a bowl.
- Mixing, stirring and kneading.
- Brushing on butter or frosting.
- Applying sprinkles and seasonings.
Decorating Tasks: Tap into your child’s artistic side by involving them in getting your home ready for holiday visitors. There are plenty of decorating tasks that children can do with limited supervision, much more than just hanging ornaments on the tree.
Some holiday decorating traditions for children could include:
- Setting out holiday pillows and throws.
- Placing candles or candy/snack dishes.
- Setting the adult and kids table, folding napkins, setting place cards.
- Arranging holiday cards on a table or string.
- Bringing out the nativity scene or holiday figures.
Gift-Related Tasks: The holidays are a wonderful time to involve your child in the tradition of giving and receiving gifts. There are many important lessons to impart to your child as well, such as budgeting, selecting meaningful gifts and gracious gift receiving.
Here are some great ways to get the kids involved in selecting and giving gifts:
- Brainstorm with your child for ideas of perfect gifts for family and friends.
- Give your older child a budget and ask them to help choose appropriate gifts when shopping.
- Wrapping presents in holiday gift bags and reusable shopping bags.
These are just a few ideas to get you started on involving your kids in holiday traditions. It’s fun for kids to participate and feel as though they have a special part in festive celebrations. They’ll cherish the memories of time spent with you!
