Why family rituals are good for us and ideas everyone will love
Family rituals are a wonderful way to connect and have fun. Find out why and get some ideas for creating new ones.
Life moves fast and things are constantly changing all around us. To help us cope with the pace and the unpredictability, having routines or rituals that we know we will do at certain times of the day or week can make us feel more grounded.
While routines or daily rituals are good for us all, kids in particular can really benefit. Their days are full of new experiences so having some consistency can help them feel safe and secure.
Fun family rituals are also a good way to create a shared experience with our loved ones. It’s a designated time to put down our phones, dispense with any other distractions and focus on doing something together.
Feeling connected can also be accompanied by a burst of oxytocin - the feel-good brain chemical that’s known as ‘the bonding hormone’.
Creating a family ritual can also be a chance to incorporate activities into our day that are good for our mental wellbeing. Think about activities that include some movement or mindfulness or practising gratitude.
Or they could simply be focussed on having fun. Laughter is good for us and even knowing that we’re going to do something fun in our day can make the stressful parts more manageable.
Here are some ideas you might love for morning, evenings and everything in between:
Morning
Try doing something fun and energetic to start the day right, whether that’s going for a morning walk or even having your own dance party!
Read how this mum turned her teenagers frowns upside down with a new rousing morning routine ⏤ involving 80’s dance music, singing and having a boogie.
If dancing isn’t your thing, it could be a sing-a-long in the car on the way to school or sharing something you’re looking forward to that day to start the day on a positive note.
After work:
Transitioning from a busy working day back into home life can sometimes be hard.
You may be tired or still have work issues on your mind but then be met with children who also want and need your energy and attention.
Having a ritual that helps you transition from work life to home life and reconnect with your family can make a big difference.
Something that includes some movement can clear your head and make you feel more relaxed. It could be a quick game of tag or kicking a ball around in the garden, a walk around the block to notice what’s new in the neighbourhood or putting on a song that everybody can dance to together.
It might only take five minutes but can help you move from one phase into the next.
At the dinner table:
Sharing the events of our day with family members can be a great way to unpack things and process what we’ve experienced.
It can also be a chance for parents to get a window into what’s going on in their kids’ world - something that can become increasingly difficult as they move into their teen years. One way to do this is for each person to share:
One thing they enjoyed from their day or that they felt proud of themselves for.
One thing that challenged them.
One thing that they are excited for or looking forward to in the future.
This provides an opportunity for reflection and to make sense of what we’ve learned. It also normalises that every day is full of different emotions but leaves us focussed on something positive.
In the evenings:
Finishing the day by talking about three things you’re thankful for can be a good one to do at tuck up time. Again, this is a ritual that brings benefits for both adults and kids.
Regularly practising gratitude is linked with greater happiness and reduced depressive symptoms.