Start a New Family Tradition
Family traditions provide a source of family identity. Traditions and rituals tell a story about a family and are often handed down from one generation to the next. This provides an important multi-generational connection to family history. “Traditions can teach children where their family came from or give them insights into their cultural or religious history.” For adoptive families traditions should come together to incorporate a part of each new family member. There are many things you can do to start a new tradition:
- Adopt a family or an angel tree child at Christmas
- Create a new holiday ornament
- Purchase a new ornament while you’re on family vacation
- Ask your child for input on creating of a new family tradition
- Make cookie baking an annual event
- Attend a winter carnival or a holiday light show
- Have a holiday brunch or dinner with family
- Integrate your child’s heritage/ cultural traditions
- Watch your favorite holiday movies together
- Read your favorite Christmas Story
- Shopping with Mom/ Shopping with Dad
- Attend a Christmas Pageant or church service
- Set out cookies for Santa or sprinkle “reindeer food” on the front lawn
- Open stockings after Christmas morning breakfast