What is your favorite fall memory as a kid? Did you and your family go pumpkin picking or take a fall hayride? Or if you grew up in an area with pretty foliage did you go for a scenic drive?
Life seems so busy now. Between shuttling kids to different activities and working, it may seem like you and your family are always traveling in different directions. Sometimes the only time you may get to connect is if you plan that time together. Why not start a fall family tradition to spend some quality time together.
Family traditions don’t have to be trips or big elaborate plans. It can be as simple as having an outdoor picnic together or planning a community service project or even just having family dinner together once a week. Or you can plan a trip every year, spend a long weekend doing something you love with your family.
Don’t let thinking about planning the perfect tradition stress you out, just enjoy the extra time with your family!
Why are family traditions important
These family traditions protect time with family. No matter how busy your lives get, this time is a sacred space. You will also make some memories along the way that will carry your kids through adulthood. Think back on some of your favorite family traditions. There were a lot of memories made you can now look back on. Some may even make you laugh… If you have ever had a flat tire, got lost, or car broke down on a family road trip, you will understand:)
How do you pick a tradition that sticks?
What does your family like to do? If you are an outdoorsy family, maybe a fall foliage camping trip or a picnic at a park. Choose an activity that all the members of the family will be in to. Don’t choose an activity you want to “force” your kids to like. Chances are they won’t have fun and it will be something they don’t look forward to in the future. Or you can just plan some time each week to reconnect with your family, like at family movie night or game night at home.
It doesn’t have to be once a year!
Did you have Sunday (or Friday or Saturday) dinners as a kid where friends and family would gather? Many of us did and still cherish memories from them. You don’t have to limit yourself to one tradition to do in the fall! Why not schedule family time once a week or maybe one fun activity together a month. It doesn’t have to be elaborate. If you are all in different places, carve out a skype call or you can have a sit-down dinner night once a week where everyone is present. You can start a tradition like we have at our family dinner table and play the high-low-high game. Each of us shares something great that happened that day, followed by a not so great thing and then topped off with another great thing that happened. This opens up communication and lets us really connect as a family, no matter how crazy life gets.
You can read this great article over at Today.com about 5 ways to carve out more family time that myself and Dr. Michelle Borba contributed to.
I also made you all a Fall Family Bucket List Printable you can download below. Sit down with your family and start jotting down some things you and your family would love to do this fall. Hang it somewhere where everyone can see it and start checking off those items together as a family!
Share with us your favorite fall tradition or maybe another tradition your family has in the comments or join the conversation on Facebook. Have a happy fall!
