Family Rituals

Family rituals are important in creating a sense of belonging and identity in your home. You can have all kinds of rituals throughout the day that can teach your household values. They can be focused on anything from responsibility and compassion, to funny rituals that just lighten the energy in your home. See if you can incorporate any of these rituals into your home life:

Rituals that teach responsibility

• Setting the table for meal time: Assign each family member to a task when setting the table.
• Make dinner together once a week, with each member of the family taking part.
• Family checklist: each member is assigned to a task to do before leaving the house (ex: turn off lights, lock the door..etc).
• Family money jar: family saves money together for a special outing each year. This can be a special dinner you take every vacation or any other outing in town. 

Rituals that lighten family energy

• Secret family code words you use for certain items. 
• Special handshakes.
• A game you always play in the car.
• Random Dance Party: pick a song that will represent your “dance party time”. Any time this song plays, everyone stops what they’re doing to do a silly dance for one minute. 

Rituals that promote compassion

• Volunteering at your local soup kitchen or animal shelter.
• Family 5k: children get to decide which organization to support. 
• Support local businesses together. 
• Repeating mantras such as: “I choose happiness”, “I am loved”, “I am a leader”, or “I choose to always do my best”.