Family rituals - why are they important?

We all love the big occasions. The joy of seeing your children’s faces on Christmas morning. The sense of togetherness you feel at a family member’s birthday, or during a cultural holiday.

Big occasion rituals provide families with the perfect opportunity to revel in each other’s company and celebrate their own cultural traditions.

Family rituals create a sense of connection 

University of Queensland Associate Professor Alina Morawska who is Deputy Director (Research) at the Parenting and Family Support Centre says there are many reasons rituals are important for families and children.

“Family rituals create a sense of continuity across generations and create a sense of connection to different family members of different generations,” she says.

“Rituals also have a cultural element and whatever they are, whether that’s a festival or a special day or an international day, they can create a sense of culture and community and that’s really important for families.”

As well as the big family occasions, many families have their own unique rituals and these are just as important for building togetherness, but they also have other benefits.

“Obviously those shared things that they do together will differ across families and some families will have fairly special and unique things that are linked to their own culture and some things will be quirky things that they have developed on their own,” Associate Professor Morawska says.

“What is important is that the family ritual creates bonds and relationships within families and I think that’s a really important element of those rituals - they are part of who you are as an individual family.”

Family rituals build confidence in our children

Whatever form they take from the large rituals like birthdays, Christmas or cultural holidays; to the day-to-day, smaller and unique rituals; family rituals are an important part of family life and help create a sense of unity and togetherness.

Family rituals represent shared quality time. Time to connect, to share, to regroup and be together as a family.

Rituals can also help families develop a set of values and that provides children with a way of approaching and exploring the world, says Associate Professor Morawska.

The benefits of family rituals also can’t be discounted for their focus on building relationships, attachments and a sense of belonging in young children.

“Relationships are really important for everyone and developing those relationships with children is essential,” she says.

“Being part of a group, part of a family is important and every group has its own rituals and its own ideals and own values and that includes family groups.”

By purposely creating, or letting rituals develop organically in their families, parents can ensure their children feel safe and secure.

“Being part of something, being part of a family creates a sense of bonding, it creates a sense of security and especially for very young children, it provides a safe base to explore the world around them.”