Traditions are important to children for so many reasons. They give them a sense of belonging, something to look forward to, a sense of stability. They give predictability in unpredictable times. In a year where the only constant is change, we are finding ourselves looking forward to and enjoying our traditions now more than ever.
Traditions provide the grounding we seek during the ebbs and flows of the day to day. And while some of our traditions may look different this year, it’s also a good time to create new ones. There are plenty of healthy holiday traditions that include good nutrition, an active yet relaxing lifestyle, and family bonding.
These could include decorating handmade cards or treats to leave on a friend’s doorstep, creating a holiday scavenger hunt, baking and swapping treats with neighbors. Even better, let kids have a voice in creating new traditions. What would they like to cook? What games do they want to play? Do they want to set aside time for favorite movies or special music?
Some simple but pandemic-friendly ones that my kids love that we are still able to do include hopping in the car and driving through neighborhoods to look at lights, daily advents with small treats or activities to do together, creating a holiday scavenger hunt, delivering treats and handwritten notes to friends, volunteering, and wearing matching pjs. Even though these are small, we feel so much gratitude for our health, to be together, and to enjoy these moments.
