Ten Tips for Better Mealtimes (Loyola Press) Meal time is one of those daily activities that we can ritualize, offering prayer together, talking about our lives, creating stronger family bonds.
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Tips for Doing Ritual and Tradition in Families (Vibrant Faith Ministries) The Vibrant Faith at Home website has a great little presentation for parents on how to get started creating traditions and ritual in the family. The presentation is very practical and realistic in offering parents encouragement to get out of their comfort zones and try something that can have a great effect.
"Forced Family Fun" - Tips for making forced family fun, less forced. A friend celebrated this tradition once a month, even when the kids reached those teenage years (or especially when they reached that age). Once a month the family penciled "forced family fun" on the calendar. Described as "forced" because there were no excuses, kids could tell friends, "sorry" I don't have a choice". This day was non-negotiable. The family headed off for fun, sometimes a simple day like hiking and a picnic, another day putt-putt golf, another day a theme park, and on rainy days, or snowy days, board games and movies. Those kids now in their 20's (with one approaching 30) all say they will do this in their families. What a great family tradition!