By Akshat Saxena, Pariva’s Senior Manager for Design, Innovation and Strategic Projects
With time off school for the kids (and probably some time off work for parents), winter break offers a prime opportunity to build family traditions.
But before you stress out, remember — meaningful time with children doesn’t have to be elaborate or complicated or time-consuming or messy. It just has to create connection.
Why make traditions?
Family traditions can play a significant role in supporting children’s emotional well-being — and they’re especially meaningful for families with neurodivergent children.
Traditions offer predictable activities that children can count on (each Christmas, or weekend, or whatever rhythm suits you). This structure reduces anxiety and offers a sense of security, even for children who are not neurodivergent.
These regular, together activities strengthen emotional connection and belonging within the family, as well as supporting identity and meaning. In a nutshell, they help children feel part of something bigger than themselves.
As a tangential benefit, traditions can provide natural opportunities to build communication and social interaction skills. They also can be adapted for sensory comfort to make celebrations enjoyable and inclusive.
But again — they don’t have to be complicated.
Keep it simple
Spend a bit of time thinking about your family dynamics and what your family enjoys. As we mentioned earlier, traditions that work are about connection. So perhaps your traditions last just a few minutes, or involve food, or revolve around something you already do. Often, meaningful traditions evolve naturally.
Here are some ideas:
- Reading together offers numerous benefits, but one of them is parent-child bonding. Start simple, such as reading a seasonal book at the start of each new season, or reading a holiday book together each day of winter break. It helps to pick a time that fits in with your regular routine, such as after breakfast or at bedtime.
- Establish a gratitude ritual. Gratitude boosts mental and physical health (among many other benefits), and it creates a perfect opportunity for sharing things you might not otherwise think to share. Take turns saying one thing you’re thankful for around the dinner table (even just on Sundays), at bedtime, or whenever makes the most sense for your family and schedule.
- Collect notes, pictures, and other mementos throughout the year. Over winter break, review them together and talk about your year.
- Create a weekly Kid’s Choice Night, in which the child picks a meal, game or activity. (Take turns if you have multiple children.) Perhaps this is a Friday night to kick off the weekend, or a night when your family typically doesn’t have scheduled activities.
- Create a sensory-friendly holiday prep tradition, such as wrapping presents or making treats while calming music plays (and taking breaks as needed). Choose an occasion when you won’t feel rushed or pressure to make things perfect.
Start simple, with just one tradition that fits your family. Then, be flexible and adapt to your specific circumstances. Remember, our goal is connection, not perfection.
Happy tradition-making!
Pariva Health has helped more than 25,000 families and counting — find out more about the special ways in which we empower families, offering hope and help, with lots of play and no wait list.