
Simple rituals like this can create special family memories.
Creating memories one meal movie#
For example, your family watches and enjoys a movie one night, so you all decide that you’ll do this together once a fortnight. And sometimes family rituals form naturally, without planning. Sometimes you might plan or create a family ritual. It could be a bike ride, a movie night or a visit to a museum. Each month a different family member can choose something they like to do. For example, everyone chooses a decoration to put on the Christmas tree, or everyone takes turns saying one thing you love about someone on their birthday. Consider making a ritual for special occasions.It could be as simple as saying something affectionate (‘I love you’) or silly (‘Watch out for crocodiles’) before your child leaves for school each morning. Think about your daily routines, and whether there’s a way to make them more fun or special.For example, you might make time each week to talk about upcoming football games. Make regular meaningful time together as a family, when you can enjoy each other’s company.These ideas can help you create fun rituals for your family:

For example, something as simple as Sunday night dinner together every week says that you value your family and enjoy spending time together. Rituals can strengthen family values and help to pass these values on to your children. This is especially important in uncertain or changing times like a family separation, or when you’re moving house, or after a traumatic event like a bushfire or flood. Rituals help children feel that the world is a safe and predictable place. For example, if your young child loves listening to you read a bedtime story before bed, this ritual will help your child settle to sleep when they’re in a different place. Rituals can also comfort children in unfamiliar circumstances. They create shared memories and build family relationships and bonds. That’s because they’re special things that you do together, and they have special meaning for you. Family rituals: why they’re importantįamily rituals give you and your children a sense of security, identity and belonging.
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Your rituals might be things that no-one but your family understands.

At these special events, you might invite extended family or friends to share in your family rituals. Your family might also have rituals for birthdays, sporting events, national days or cultural festivals like Diwali or Halloween. Your family’s rituals might include celebrating religious festivals like Christmas, Chanukah or Ramadan. Some rituals might have been handed down from your grandparents or other relatives, like always opening Christmas crackers with the person on your left or eating yum cha on Sunday mornings. Family rituals are a way of saying, ‘This is who we are and what we value’.

Family rituals are special things your family does.
