Families and summer traditions

As a child, do you remember traditions you did with your family in the summer?

Maybe your family captured the spirit of camping or attended an annual family reunion picnic.

If you have fond memories of family traditions, you know how important they are.

As a parent, what traditions are you continuing or establishing with your family this summer?

Will you attend community festivals, go to the library once a week, or take a vacation? 

Maybe you plan to stay close to home and make homemade pizza and watch a movie every Friday night.

Or, maybe you'll invite friends over to grill and enjoy outdoor games.

Even exercising together by riding bikes every week can be one of many traditions that give families time together.

"Traditions are special ways of doing things that we repeat over and over again," explains Milly Kaiser, a family life educator with University of Illinois Extension.

"When you use a muscle in your body over and over again in a certain way, it makes the muscle stronger. Sharing experiences over and over again in a certain way strengthens a family."

Family rituals or traditions can be something that you do nightly, weekly, monthly or yearly. The only condition is that you choose something that everyone is interested in doing.

Most importantly, traditions give the family stability and a feeling of belonging. It's an opportunity for parents to share and demonstrate their values and beliefs with their children through their traditions.

    'Summertime living with family

traditions can be some of the

best memories for years to come.'

Togetherness does not have to cost extra money. Togetherness is simply giving your time to each other.

With a positive attitude and a little creative flare, your family can make these simple activities a fun way to be together, and learn together:

Plant a flower or vegetable garden together.

Pack a picnic lunch and go hiking.

Create a family memory book.

Visit the local humane shelter and ask how you can help.

Go camping and gaze at the stars.

Go bike riding together.

Train for a 5K charity walk or run.

Go blueberry picking and make blueberry pancakes.

Do something nice for someone.

Check out summer concerts or festivals.

"Plan some special family time this summer," suggests Kaiser.

"Who knows, maybe some of the summer activities you do this year will become a tradition. Summertime living with family traditions can be some of the best memories for years to come."