November message Children and Holiday Traditions

As the winter holidays near we think of traditions. Usually our traditions are similar to the traditions our parents and our grandparents followed. Thanksgiving for many means a grand meal with extended family at the dinner table. For others it means ordering Chinese food for take-out. Besides being fun, traditions provide predictability for all family members.

A child needs to experience predictability to feel secure. It helps for a child to know that no matter what happens in the world around them, that some things will always remain the same.

When families gather together to celebrate Thanksgiving or Christmas or Hanukkah, children can see how traditions bond generations of the family together. Family memories may be shared or favorite family stories..."Remember when..."  Children are never too young to "remember when." Include them in the dinner table conversation. Ask them to remember last Thanksgiving and who got the turkey wishbone or what games the family played after dinner.

Holidays are also a good time to include children in the preparations. Setting the dinner table for Thanksgiving is a chore that most young elementary-aged children can handle. Engage them in creating crayon and construction paper place cards with family members' names on them. If Grandpa likes football your young child might illustrate the card with Grandpa's name with a football, etc. Children can create centerpieces from a collection of fall leaves, acorns, Indian corn, and gourds.

Besides feeling important and an integral part of the day's activities, children can learn the concept of being a part of the family team, i.e. everyone does their part to help the day's events be memorable and fun.

For more information about children and holiday traditions go to:

http://www.nymetroparents.com/newarticle.cfm?colid=6804

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