“So what’s with the…” I started to ask when my sister suddenly shushed me. “We don’t talk when Survivor is on,” she quickly explained without turning her head. I glanced around the room and saw my nieces and nephew locked in on the TV while the opening montage music drummed up everyone’s heartbeats. I knew the reality show was intense, but I didn’t realize their weekly tradition of watching it as a family was equally extreme. I felt like the O’Keefe Tribal Council was about to vote me off the island for talking.
Family traditions give everyone something special to look forward to each week, month, or year. They also reinforce your values and create a shared identity. It’s never too late (or too early) to begin a new tradition. Consider starting one of these 72 family traditions and see how they bring your family closer.
Weekly Traditions
1. Game Night – Choose a night for board games, card games, video games, or even a game of pickleball or four square. And, Mom, eventually, you’ll need to introduce your child to the family tradition of never finishing a game of Monopoly. Or is that just my family?
2. Movie Night – Pick a night for a family-friendly movie, and set up a makeshift concession stand with special treats, like extra buttered popcorn or Sour Patch Kids. Take turns picking the movie each week.
3. Thankful Thursdays (or Saturdays!) – Pick a day to look back and share what you are thankful for that week. Practicing gratitude as a weekly family tradition helps kids develop a positive mindset and fosters empathy and appreciation for others.
4. Family Dinner Night – As kids get older and schedules get more packed, sharing a meal around the table gets harder. But starting this family tradition in the early years can help safeguard against missing out on the benefits of eating together. By the way, picking up takeout and eating in the car before practice counts if you use the time to talk, laugh, and hang out!
5. Practicing the Sabbath – This can be part of your weekly family routine and a faith tradition you pass down to your kids. On your way to church, or on your way back, make it tradition within a tradition to grab breakfast along the way. A donut can be a powerful motivator to get kids up and at ‘em (and out the door) on time!
6. Motivational Mondays – Get the school (and work) week started on a positive note. On
Mondays, leave notes like these iMOM Love Notes for your family in unexpected places, like the car’s front seat or the toothbrush drawer. (That’s also an excellent way to know if your child brushes his teeth!) This can be one of those family traditions you model, and then you can encourage the rest of your crew to follow suit.
7. Tech-Free Tuesdays – Put down the phone, remote, controller, and iPad. May as well take off that Apple Watch, too. Instead, spend some face-to-face time away from all things screen. Try one of these ideas for this family tradition!
Monthly Traditions
8. Parent-Child Dates – This is one of those family traditions that will evolve as your child grows and her interests change. Regardless of your child’s age, get some date night ideas from our Mother-Daughter Bucket List printable (or our Mother-Son Bucket List printable!)
9. Trying a New Cuisine – If given the choice, many young kids would eat pizza, chicken nuggets, and mac and cheese all day, every day. But this monthly family tradition can expand your child’s palate and maybe even lead to a love of udon noodles and all things Japanese.
10. Family Meetings – Hold a monthly family meeting where everyone can share their thoughts and discuss plans and schedules. Or brainstorm vacation ideas! Family meetings can also be a neutral space for you to coach your kids through sibling disputes, such as bathroom-sharing dilemmas and he-said-she-said situations.
11. Writing a Letter to Your Child – This is one of those long-term family traditions you will thank yourself for starting. Once a month, write a letter (or a short note) to your child, but don’t give it to him yet. You can write it like a diary entry highlighting what you did together or pen a sentence or two letting him know about a milestone achievement. For my daughters, I wrote letters to them as they were growing up. Now that our oldest is in college, I mail her one every few weeks. By the way, this can be a yearly tradition instead of a monthly one.
Yearly Traditions
12. Taking Family Photos – While you certainly can, you don’t need to book a professional photographer, pick out matching clothes, or even get fresh haircuts for the fam. All this family tradition takes, well, is one take—or click—of the camera. Be inspired by these summer family photo ideas.
13. Picking a Word of the Year – While many moms select a word of the year for themselves, so do many families as a yearly tradition. Picking a word for your family can guide your
choices for the year, instill a family value, and even home your parenting in on a specific character trait you want to teach your kids.
14. Creating a Family Time Capsule – Bottle up (or box up!) those special memories and milestones from the year and put them away for 5 or 10 years. Invite everyone to contribute something personal and a little note as to why they picked it. Or, create a yearly time capsule for each child on her birthday. Then, when she turns 18, open each one up!
15. Sports Stadium Tour – Some family traditions might spill into your child’s adult years! If you’ve got sports fans in the house, this is one of them. Every year, plan to attend a game at a new-to-you stadium or arena. Pick a sport, like college football, and plan yearly to check out stadiums in your favorite conference or keep it local to your state!
16. Writing an Annual Prayer – While praying isn’t reserved for one day a year, some moms write down a specific prayer for each child once a year and refer to it throughout the year. These prayers often focus on growing certain traits, addressing challenges, and expressing hope for what the next 365 days hold. This tradition can occur on January 1, your child’s birthday, the first day of school, or a date you pick randomly.
17. Sports-Inspired Family Feasts – While yearly family traditions abound around the Super Bowl, why limit your family to the NFL? Pick a sport and build a family tradition around it! Serve up strawberries and cream and watch a Wimbledon match. Make hot browns and sing along to “My Old Kentucky” home before the Derby. Or master your pimento cheese recipe before watching them tee off at Augusta National Golf Club.
Birthday Traditions
18. Decorating the Bedroom Door – After your child falls asleep, string up some lights, hang balloons and streamers, and add words of affirmation and birthday wishes to his bedroom door.
19. Celebrating Half Birthdays – Kids typically look forward to their birthdays all year and would love an additional celebration halfway through. Plus, for kids with birthdays near holidays (hello, December babies!), a half birthday offers a day of recognition without the holiday rush.
20. Building a Cherished Heirloom – Got a little girl? Try starting this classic southern tradition where a pearl necklace gets built gradually by purchasing a single pearl every year for her birthday. Invite her grandmothers and aunts to take part by gifting a pearl year after year until she turns 18, 21, or 25. Then, all the pearls are strung together to make a necklace. The birthday tradition of building a charm bracelet over the years works, too!
21. A Yes Day! – Anything (within reason) goes for this birthday tradition. Cake for breakfast? Yes, sir! Follow behind the garbage truck and watch it pick up trash? Um, sure?! Get a snack and a drink from the vending machine? Yep! Play at the park after bath time? Of course! Your child will love saying yes to this family tradition!
22. Birthday Breakfast – Start the day with a special breakfast, like pancakes with
whipped cream and sprinkles, pancakes poured into the shape of the birthday year, or pancakes in bed. Or forget about flipping pancakes and make whatever special breakfast you want to mark the occasion year after year.
23. Royalty for a Day – Create a homemade crown or sash that the birthday boy or girl gets to wear at breakfast, dinner, or all day! He or she also gets a fancy chair at the table, and don’t forget to pull out the fine china. Pair this family tradition with the Yes Day (#21)!
School-Year Traditions
24. Back-to-School “Graduation Shirt” Photos – Of course, you’ll take photos on the first day of school! Elevate your game by getting an XL shirt with your child’s graduation year on it. Then, take a picture each year of your child wearing the shirt to see how eventually he grows into it.
25. Back-to-School Dinner – Kick off the school year with a special family dinner where everyone shares their goals, hopes, and prayers for the year ahead. Tip: Be sure to write them down! Oh, and it’s also an excellent time to share your favorite moments from the summer, too.
26. Showing Your (Teacher) Appreciation – At the start or end of each school year, have your child create personalized notes or gifts for her teachers. The note can include what your child looks forward to that year, a little prayer for the teacher, or just a little drawing!
27. End-of-Year Celebration – Throw a family party when the school year ends—whether it’s a backyard BBQ, ice cream social, or even a takeout pizza picnic at the park. Or turn on the sprinkler, blow up the kiddie pool, and make a splash! This family tradition will evolve as your kids grow, but it will be one they always look forward to when that final school bell rings.
28. A Book Signing – Pick up a copy of a children’s book, such as The Wonderful Things You Will Be, or I Wish You More, that celebrates the person your child will become. Then, each passing school year, ask your child’s teacher to write a note inside. When your
child graduates, give him the book as a gift, holding sweet messages from all his teachers.
29. Measuring Your Child When School Starts – This simple family tradition visually marks your child’s growth each year. It creates a fun, nostalgic way to track how much he’s grown physically and can give him confidence heading into the new school year.
30. Drawing Hearts on Your Hands – When our oldest daughter started school, we started the back-to-school tradition of drawing a heart on our hands at drop-off. Inspired by the book The Kissing Hand, this simple gesture will remind your little one of your love and give her a sense of security throughout the day. It’s a reassuring tradition that helps ease school jitters, especially during the preschool and elementary years.
Summer Traditions
31. Creating a Summer Bucket List – At the start of summer, put together a family bucket list of activities, and try to check off as many as possible before school starts. While you might be tempted to include 100 ideas, keep your list simple (and achievable!) by asking each
person to add one or two “must-do” items.
32. Library Summer Reading Program – Most public libraries offer an incentive program (with prizes) for reading books. This summertime tradition can help stop the summer slide and give you an excuse to check out the latest beach read!
33. Planting a Garden – For this family tradition, you don’t need acres of land. A potted plant garden works just as well. The point is to get you and the kids digging in the dirt, planting seeds, and watching them grow. It’s not just about growing food (or flowers)—it’s about growing memories.
34. A Lemonade Stand – From squeezing fresh lemons to decorating the stand, everyone in your family can have a role. It is a great way to spend a sunny afternoon, teaches kids about teamwork and responsibility, and might even uncover an entrepreneurial spirit! Some families use this summer tradition to raise money for a local charity.
35. Fourth of July Fireworks – Does an American family tradition get any more classic than this? Whether lighting up your own sparklers or leaving it all to the professionals, the boom of bright colors in the night sky never gets old. Throw in some hot dogs, and you’ve got yourself a classic July 4th.
36. Going on the Hunt for Water – One iMOM reader started this family tradition to get her kids outside and exploring. Whether searching for hidden creeks, splashing in puddles after a summer storm, or visiting different lakes and rivers for a day of fishing (or the beach!), each adventure brings a fresh way to cool off and connect.
37. Visiting Museums, the Odder the Better – While you probably know about art and children’s museums, you might not know about the ones a little off the beaten path, like the National Mustard Museum, the SPAM Museum, or the National Corvette Museum. There seems to be a museum for just about everything, so make it a family tradition to visit a few new ones every summer!
38. End of Summer Party – These relaxed celebrations offer families an opportunity to savor one final unhurried moment together before the whirlwind of school preparations, forms, and structured schedules takes over. Add one of these party ideas to your yearly family tradition.
Faith-Based Traditions
39. Baby Dedications – A baby dedication is a church ceremony where parents commit to raising a child in the Christian faith, and the congregation prays for God’s guidance and blessings on the child’s life. Baby dedications give your family an excuse to gather and celebrate while committing to raising a child to know God. It’s a meaningful moment to surround your baby with love and prayer.
40. Baptism Celebrations – Celebrating baptisms can be a significant family tradition that honors a pivotal milestone in a child’s life. Whether gathering loved ones for the ceremony or hosting a party afterward, baptism celebrations allow one to reflect on God’s grace and love. Extend the family tradition by remembering the date every year!
41. Prayer Before Eating – Saying grace before meals can be a meaningful family tradition
that goes beyond religious practice. This brief ritual creates a moment to reflect and express gratitude. Families with young children can practice this family tradition by holding hands and reciting this simple little kids’ prayer.
Christmas Family Traditions
42. Homemade Christmas Ornaments – Create unique ornaments together. Then each year when you decorate the tree, you’ll recall tender moments from previous Christmases, talk about how interests evolve from Bluey obsessions to Taylor Swift, and maybe even share a good laugh at the evolution of everyone’s artistic abilities.
43. Opening a Present on Christmas Eve – Opening a present on Christmas Eve gives your family an early taste of Christmas morning. In our family, we always open one present after attending church services, and our now-teen girls know to expect pajamas and a book. It’s one of our family traditions!
44. Cookie Baking – Some family traditions are so sweet that they pop up on everyone’s list. This is one of them! Of course, why limit yourself to cookies? Cakes, candy, and savory treats can all be a part of this yearly Christmas tradition.
45. Giving a “Traditional” Gift – Whether it’s a new pair of matching pajamas or socks for everyone, make it part of your yearly Christmas celebration to give a specific type of present. One of our iMOM readers gives each child an ornament from a place their family visited that year. It’s a memory token they can one day take with them when they put up their own trees as adults.
46. Christmas Countdown – 24 days? 12 days? ONE DAY! Some families use an Advent calendar to help count down the days. Others write the number on a chalkboard or set a
reminder on Alexa to make an announcement each morning before playing a Christmas carol. Some moms love counting down the days with the 12 Days of Prayers printables.
47. Making Gingerbread Houses – This hands-on tradition lets everyone showcase their creativity while sampling sweet treats. If you want to keep it simple, make a “gingerbread forest” instead. Take ice cream sugar cones, lather them with white icing, and decorate them with candy.
48. Celebrating Your Heritage – Christmas crackers (or poppers) are a staple at our December 25 brunch. When opened, these table decorations make a snapping sound and contain a small gift, a paper crown, and a joke. It’s a slight nod to my British birthplace. Give a nod to your heritage by adding a family tradition from your own.
49. Writing a Letter from Santa to Your Child – One iMOM reader was inspired by J.R.R. Tolkien to write a letter to her daughter from Father Christmas each year. It was one of the family traditions the author did with his children and can be a sweet Christmas tradition for families today.
50. Christmas Eve Candlelight Service – Want to press pause on all the Christmas craziness? Seeing your children’s faces lit up by soft candlelight and hearing the refrain from Silent Night will do just that. This family tradition can become a little moment of peace to recenter your heart and mind on the true meaning of Christmas.
Easter Family Traditions
51. Glow-in-the-Dark Easter Egg Hunt – Shake up the traditional egg hunt! Fill plastic eggs with glow sticks and hide them for an after-dark adventure. Or forget the glow sticks and give kids a flashlight instead to find eggs stuffed with trinkets or candy.
52. “Egging” a Friend’s House – Nope. Don’t toss actual eggs. Instead, ask your child to think of a family she’d like to invite to go to church with your family on Easter. Then slip invitations in a handful of plastic eggs along with some candy and hide them in the
friend’s front yard. Text the mom to tell her about the egg-celent surprise outside! And, hey, if you don’t attend church, this is still a fun family tradition to do (just leave out an invitation)!
53. Attending Easter Church Service – Attending church service together on Easter offers a meaningful way to reflect on the significance of the holiday (and gives you a reason to get everyone all dressed up). So, it’s no wonder churches are packed!
54. Serving at Church Together – Volunteering at church together as part of your Easter family tradition teaches your kids the importance of giving back and being part of a larger community. Plus, you’re putting your faith into action by making a positive impact on others.
55. Easter Brunch – Ever notice how some of the best family traditions involve food? Hop on into another yummy-filled tradition. Serve classic Easter fare like deviled eggs, hot cross buns, or lamb, or bake your favorite casserole. It’s your family tradition, so make it what you want!
Fall Family Traditions
56. Tailgate Food and Football – Your family doesn’t need to be made up of colossal football fans to love some good ol’ tailgating food. Plan a wings, cheese dip, and chips, and salsa menu, or order a pizza. Your family will look forward to this every week during the season. And it might be just the thing to get your teenager out of her room.
57. Decorating a Pumpkin – Visit a local pumpkin patch and let each family member pick out his or her own pumpkin to carve or decorate. Selecting a pumpkin at the grocery store together works, too!
58. Apple Picking – Make it a yearly tradition to take your family to a pick-your-own fruit farm. Then bring your harvest home to make freshly baked pies, jams, and jellies, or just eat them as is.
59. Fall Fairs and Festivals – Attend a local fall festival or county fair for games, rides, and treats like deep-fried Oreos or Snickers, or stand in line for a classic funnel cake with extra powdered sugar.
Thanksgiving Family Traditions
60. Turkey Trot – Why not burn some preemptive calories with a Turkey Trot each year? It’s basically a fun run or walk on Thanksgiving morning. You can join an organized one in your community, or create your own family version around the block. Throw on some silly turkey headbands, grab the kids (strollers welcome!), and get moving.
61. Watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade – The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is like the official kickoff to Thanksgiving for so many families each year. And when Santa rolls in at the end? That’s your cue that the Christmas season is officially here, too! (But, hey, Mom, we know it’s your tradition to put up your tree on November 1! No judgment.)
62. Handprint Turkeys – Grab some paint and paper, and prepare for a little mess. Not only is this family tradition a fun activity for the kiddos during Thanksgiving, but you’ll love looking back years from now and seeing how those tiny hands have grown.
63. Thanksgiving Gratitude Jar – Set up a Gratitude Jar for the whole family. A simple shoebox works, too! Throughout November, encourage everyone to jot down little things they’re thankful for each day. On Thanksgiving day, read them out loud.
64. Creating a Thankfulness Tablecloth – Get a plain white tablecloth and some fabric markers. Each Thanksgiving, have everyone at your table to write or draw what they’re grateful for in the moment. As the years pass, your tablecloth will become covered in memories and gratitude and eventually turn into a cherished heirloom.
65. Hosting an Annual Friendsgiving – Make it potluck style to keep things easy. It’s all the fun of Thanksgiving, but with your chosen family. Plus, it’s a great excuse to make (and eat) your favorite sweet potato casserole twice!
Giving Back Traditions
66. Shopping for a Cause – Head to the store with your family to buy food for a local food pantry every February when supplies tend to dip low. Or pick up pet supplies for an animal shelter every June during kitten season, or each school year, help stock the closet for the main office, or a school guidance counselor, who often provides snacks, a change of clothes, or school supplies to kids in need.
67. Cleaning Up the Trails – Hike a local trail with a backpack lined with a trash bag. Pick up garbage as you make your way through nature. And, while you’re there, hunt for a geocache, too! It’s one of my kids’ favorite family traditions.
68. Book Fair Blessings – If your child’s school offers a Scholastic Book Fair, make it a family tradition to pick a book or two off a teacher’s wish list and build up her in-classroom library. Or choose books together from her Amazon wish list!
69. Volunteering Together – Set aside one day a month to serve together. Write letters to men and women serving in the military through Operation Gratitude or put together Operation Christmas Child boxes through Samaritan’s Purse. Or serve at your church, local animal shelter (or equine facility), or other non-profit that aligns with your family’s values and interests.
70. Sponsoring a Child – Find a child in need through organizations such as Compassion International or World Vision. Consider a child who shares a birthday with your little one. Then, write her letters and provide financial support for healthcare and education.
New Year’s Family Traditions
71. End-of-Year Interview – Who’s your best friend? What’s your favorite way to spend a Saturday? What do you want to be when you grow up? Ask the same set of questions each year about your child’s favorite things, dreams, and goals to see how her answers change over time.
72. Eating Your Way to a Good Year – Want to know what pork, black-eyed peas, and grapes have in common? They’re all part of a New Year’s Eve food tradition to bring good luck. For your family, stick to the classic New Year’s food options or make up your own go-to classic. Our family tradition involves eating a charcuterie board and trying out new condiments and spreads from our Christmas stockings (another holiday family tradition!).
73. Noon Year’s Eve Celebration – Instead of waiting for midnight to mark the New Year, hold your festivities at noon. Make it a family tradition to do a balloon drop, toast with sparkling cider, and toot horns.
What are some of your favorite family traditions?
