Fun Traditions to Start This Holiday Season

The holiday season is coming up, and with it comes family traditions. Various traditions may have been passed down through your family over time that are impossible to let go, such as eating certain food or playing specific games. While it’s important to hold onto these old traditions, there is nothing like starting a new one with your family that you could pass on to future generations while also spicing up your holidays! Listed below are some of the best family traditions to start this holiday season:

1. Create a Music Playlist

In today’s modern world, there are many ways to start a new family tradition, and with a technological twist. One of the best ways to incorporate technology into family tradition is by creating a family holiday music playlist. Every person in the family can choose a few songs to compile into a bigger playlist to jam out to all throughout the holiday season. These days, the amount of music apps available on one’s phone or computer is just about endless. Not only is it fun to sing and dance along with the music, but studies have often shown that sharing music or musical experiences with family members strengthens family bonds.

2. Match Family Pajamas

What better time to dress up then for the holidays? In this case, ‘dressing up’ can mean finding or even creating matching family pajamas to wear and match together as a family. Everyone wants to relax as much as they can during the holidays, and wearing comfortable and cute pajamas is the best way to do so. The ideas for matching family pajamas are infinite, and could include matching animal patterns, holiday-colored stripes, or even holiday-themed family costumes! Those with a crafty flair could try their hand at knitting pajamas themselves! Even better, matching family pajamas makes for a fantastic photo op!

3. Get Thoughtful

Many families take some time over the holiday season to give back in many ways, whether it’s through donating clothes, giving extra food to those in need or by volunteering in homeless shelters. While all great traditions in their own right, it is also important to “give back” to your family and yourself. The best way to do this is by writing a “grateful list.” You and your family can take the time to each come up with a list of things you are grateful for. There are a lot of different ways to write this list. You and your family could write about things you are grateful for about each other, or write a list of things you are happy happened over the past year. It’s been proven that taking the time to be grateful can boost happiness, lower stress and even improve health!

4. Camp Out Around the Tree

Camping is always a fun family activity during spring or summer time, but it may not be ideal during the cold holiday season. That does not mean the fun has to end! Instead, bring camping indoors. You can do this by either setting up a tent inside the house, or, if not possible, building makeshift tents using pillows or blankets. Ikea gives examples of six different kinds of tents or fortresses you can make in your own living room, or you can get creative and invent a new one! Add sipping some hot chocolate, munching on holiday-themed cookies and reciting holiday tales to the experience to make it the ultimate camping adventure!

The possibilities for creating new family holiday traditions are nearly endless, whether they involve music, clothing or even just writing down another list besides a wish list! Not only is making a new tradition fun, it’s also especially beneficial to children, where traditions help shape a child’s identity. The connections made during this time will leave a lasting-impression, both fun and special alike.