Cherish family time with these everyday and special occasion traditions.
(More on that later.)
Pick a few to try out at home, and you’ll be making new memories in no time.
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A tradition is much more likely to hold if it’s one that everyone in the family enjoys.
Think about the things your family likes to do.
Do you play games often or does your bunch have a competitive streak?
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Games, sporting events, and family challenges may be a good choice.
Whatever you decide, involve the whole family in decision making, that way, everyone feels included.
They don’t have to take a lot of time or planning.
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(And good luck to you.)
It’s a great way to experience new things, explore new places, and make life-long memories together.
Think of the Griswolds, but everything goes smoothly.
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To help your planning, explore ourfavorite family vacation spots.
Why not pose for an annual picture?
For others, it can be kayaking on a nearby lake.
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Make A Spring Cleaning List To Tackle Together
And make it fun.
While not necessarily the most exciting of traditions, it fosters a healthy relationship with teamwork.
Throw some music on, and get to work.
Doing it all together makesspring cleaningfeel less like a chore for everyone involved.
Chick-fil-A Daddy-Daughter Date Night?
Now, that’s a “date” worth putting on the calendar.
(Like when Gossipy Gail is trying to bait-and-switch you both into talking about your mama’s best friend?
Not today, Gail.)
Likewise, there will be plenty of exciting moments when nothing but a father-son handshake will do.
(When the clock runs out and your team has won the SEC Championship, for example?)
It can be a weekly, monthly, or seasonal thing.
Once or twice a month, pick something from the jar and do it.
The fun part is also the most harrowing: You never know what you’re going to pull.
Even meaningfulbaby baptism gifts, such as a favorite storybook, are good time capsule candidates.
After a few years, your family’s jar will be chock-full of fun tidbits to read aloud.
Youll be spending time together and making a difference.
Hold a Christmas cookie bake-off or an egg-dyeing contest to change up your holidays.
Or level up Saturday nights with a cooking challenge where everyone makes something with surprise ingredients.
Go Camping (At Least Once)
Listen, camping isn’t for everyone.
It might test even the strongest of relationships.
Ever tried to cook a campfire meal for five without losing your patience?
That’s exactly why you should do it together.
Head to a pumpkin patch so everyone can choose their own gourd to carve.
Gather the gang for apple picking to make pies, applesauce, orapple butterwith your bounty.
Or simply go on a favorite hike to see the changing leaves.
A portable meal also makes it easy to focus on the activity at hand.
(If your son is turning nine, you’ll likely be heading to the hibachi grill.
That’s a big, big year for the “hibachi phase.")
Start a new tradition by cooking unexpected dishes.
Try lighting up thegrill on Christmas Dayor making white lasagna for Easter.
Incorporate family favorites or let everyone cook a dish.
A nontraditional holiday meal may become your familys favorite new tradition.
Celebrate Beginnings And Endings
Mark the last day of school with an ice cream outing.
Mark milestones like a first job or promotion with letters of congratulations and encouragement from family members.
Even small acts can become anticipated traditions.
Why not make it even more fun for everyone by gettingmatching, themed pajamasfor the whole team?
It will create lasting (and silly) memories for everyone.
Get everyone involved in makingfood giftslike homemade candy, snack mix, or cheese straws for the holidays.
As we said: When it comes to tradition-making, consistency is key.
Motivating, to say the least.
Keep Up A Saturday Ritual Together
For some, it’s a morning walk around the neighborhood.
For others, it’s cooking abig breakfasttogether.
Or perhaps it’s just chilling in bed with a few cups of coffee.
Bonus nostalgia points if you break out a dedicatedfolding tablefrom the closet each week for the proceedings.
Make time between pre-weekday prep craziness to have dinner around the table.
What better way to unwind from a long week than with your family’s favorite characters?
Celebrate a new release with themed snacks and drinks, and cuddle up with plenty of blankets.
You’ll be glad for the extra snuggle time.
If Mondays are hard, check in on Sunday nights with a special bedtime story.
Talking about what you are looking forward to in the week to come can lead to helpful conversations.
This routine can be for younger and older children.
Just be prepared to stay up past your bedtime with teens.
