Do you have special (non-holiday) traditions with your kids?

[Bbgrizzle]

I have three DD's, 12, 8 and 4. Once a week after school, I make a fancy afternoon tea for us girls. I put out my fancy tablecloths, my china tea set, all my tea accoutrements. On a 3-tier dessert plate rack, I put finger sandwiches, cookies, cupcakes, etc. and from my teapot I serve either lemonade or hot chocolate, depending on the weather.

This is our special time for them to tell me all about their life and how school is going. I plan on doing this even when they are all grown up.

Also, I plan individual "dates" with each daughter. I let them choose an activity, like a movie, lunch, the park, whatever. This helps ensure I get that quality one-on-one time with each child. Besides they (and I) love it!

What kinds of special traditions do you have with your kids?

 

[Tigger&Belle]

One thing that we used to do that I plan to start up again is "Sundae Sundays". The first sunday of every month we had ice cream sundaes with whatever toppings we could think of. Very tasty and fun and visitors who happened to be with us on those Sundays sure liked it! I have the hot fudge ready and waiting for next Sunday and I'll buy some toppings when I go to the store this week. We have some hot fudge sundae and banana split bowls that we like to use.

Another is that I make homemade chocolate chip cookies for the first day of school. This year my DD started college so I had to make her cookies so she could bring them with her--she was not about to be left out of that tradition!

 

[ZipaDeeDooDah]

That is so sweet - your girls will remember those times fondly!

About once a month I pick up our boys from school at lunchtime and take them to a park and we have a picnic lunch. I really cherish that time together, and they think it's really cool to have mom pick them up and take them out for lunch (I know it won't always be that way!)

We also regularly have family nights with games, pizza, movie, prizes etc. Right now, our parties usually center on Disney themes, but I hope to continue this for a long time!

Great topic!

 

[MAKmom]

We never do fast food or take out unless we are on vacation. On the way to the shore we always get Mcdonalds or Burger King. iIf the girls are sick & have to go to the DR I will stop on the way home. Since most of what we eat is organic this is a BIG treat in this family.

 

[goofy's friends]

My mom does the teaparty at the end of school every year for all her grandkids and they love it!!!

We have beginning of the school year rituals we follow--pic taken in the same spot, new school supply shopping with each kid including lunch and a chosen activity of that kid.

Sunday nights are our family night with a game, movie, or dinner out. I like the Sunday Sundae idea too!!

 

[MAKmom]

I thought of something else. 30 days from our WDW trip we start playing Disney Movies everyday. We watch them all before we go. This year the girls are noticing how the animation has changed from movie to movie. We watched a special on Walt & how he invented techniques from movie to movie.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

I thought of another thing. After every report card we bring the honor roll kids out to a report card dinner. And no, if the report card is not good the child can't go--life is hard in our house (I do give a break to a child if they've tried their best and have a pretty good report card, but not honor roll).

We usually go to one restaurant per grading period, but at the end of the year each of the kids gets to pick their own restaurant. After the 3rd marking period we did let our 15yo choose his own restaurant since he'd brought his grades us so much, so one restaurant for him and one for the straight A middle school brother (and the kindergartener gets to tag along to both meals--we still need to go to both of those meals).

 

[LadyZolt]

Am I the only one who celebrates "National Bubble Wrap Day" with my kids? Oh, the kids LOVE it! Mine are now teens and still enjoy it. We save bubble wrap we get in packages or whatever through the year, and then on National Bubble Wrap Day (no, I'm not making it up -- it usually occurs in January -- Google it. LOL!) we all get down the bubble wrap and pop it. Also, there's "National Talk Like a Pirate Day." Another fun one for kids. And I didn't make that one up, either. This year, it's September 19th, for those who want to plan ahead. LOL! I realize that these are technically "holidays," but since most people don't celebrate them, I view them just as "fun" days and not "holidays." Obscure celebrations, to be sure, but it's just a blast to do this stuff with the kids.

-Dorothy (LadyZolt) (who can say "Aargh! Shiver me timbers!" WHILE she pops her bubble wrap! That's just the kind of versatile lady I am!)

 

[Bbgrizzle]

You guys are giving me some great ideas to try with my own kids.

T&B: I love your Sunday Sundaes idea! I have those old fashioned glass sundae dishes too! My MIL got them for me at a garage sale. It makes ice cream extra special, don't you think?

ZipaDeeDooDah: I miss being a SAHM. I used to be able to go have lunch with my kids at school too. Or I would surprise them and get them a happy meal and drop it off for them in the front office. Now that I work I don't get to do that anymore. Your kids will always remember that.

LadyZolt: You are the first person I have ever heard of who celebrates National Bubble Wrap day. I think you deserve a tag for that! I do observe National Pancake day each year by taking my kids to IHOP at 6:00am before school!

MAKmom: Great idea having your kids watch Disney movies before your trips. It helps them get even more excited about seeing the characters, doesn't it?

 

[llij]

T&B - I love the Sundae idea too! We may have to start a tradition like that one.

The girls and I do 'baking school' during the summer. I love to cook and they want to help out, so they pick out recipes we can make together. It is neat that they want to learn how to cook and we always have a fun time together.

We also do movie nights and ice cream after soccer games. Another fun tradition we do is to make a "Summer Fun List" of things we would like to do during the summer. We post it on the fridge and check off the items we do as we go along. It is always fun at the end of the summer to look back and see all the fun things we accomplished.

 

[Bbgrizzle]

llij: Baking school is a great idea. I realized the other day that I hardly ever ask my kids to help me cook. I always just want to get my cooking over quickly. I need to let them take turns helping me cook dinner and bake goodies. Otherwise, how will they learn to cook? And they feel such a sense of accomplishment when they help make something.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

If I remember I'll post a reminder on Friday or Saturday that Sunday with be the official Sundae Sunday Day! Will give us time to buy the ice cream and toppings. Yum!

 

[Stitchfans]

The only thing I can think of is on Sundays I always cook breakfast. I usually make french toast. Sometimes it is chocolate chip pancakes or waffles. I give my family a choice and french toast seems to be their favorite.

 

[ZipaDeeDooDah]

Great ideas - I will have to try some of these new traditions as well!

While browsing my son's new issue of Disney Adventures last night I noticed they listed July 16th (a sunday of course!) as National Ice Cream Day! They suggest making an extra-big sundae to celebrate!

 

[AmazingGrace]

Last day of school, I do rootbeer floats for the kids and whoever shows up!!

 

[llij]

August 10th is National S'mores day so we plan to pull out the old s'more maker and eat some!

 

[Bbgrizzle]

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