For Local Blog in MinneapolisLooking Backwards and Forwards – New Years Traditions and Teachable Moments for our Kids
December 31st, 2008
A while back, we had a post here on the Bur Bur and Friends Community Blog called “Putting Family First, How do we Make it a Priority?”. The article talks about the importance of family rituals and creating our own traditions with our kids. Perhaps this year is a time to do something new or different with your kids to create memories for them.
If you have any, we would like to encourage you to share your New Years eve traditions or memories with your children. If you don’t have any ring in the New Year rituals, why not start now? There are a number of ways to do this. Send a card or a note to those important to you. Call a friend or family member if you don’t have someone with you this evening.
We encourage families everywhere to than turn off the television for a few hours. Have a nice dinner and talk about what everyone remembers from the past year. Share your favorite parts and share some of the things you have learned. Then turn and ask your kids the same. If they can’t think of anything its okay to prompt them to help. By posing the four simple questions below, you could be planting seeds that will be with them for a lifetime.
What did I learn in 2008?
What were my challenges?
What did I learn from them?
How will I carry that into the coming year?
We would be grateful if you would share some New Year tradition ideas or memories you have below. From Farmer’s Hat Productions, we wish you and yours a New Year filled with prosperity, hope and love.
Warmest regards,
-Kakie and JoAnne
Seed Newsvine
December 31st, 2008 at 10:14 am
Hi…I want to commend you all for working to increase the feelings of family and memories to today’s children…we are losing “family” as the primary entity!
While I have no childhood memories for the new year…we really never did anything since we were not party-oriented people…and I also don’t have children. However, my sister, when she was married began a tradition of spending the evening with the family, serving finger food only…and just having a fun time together.
I always thought this was the kind of thing I would have done if I had married…so I pass it on as my “own” recommendation! LOL
Best success wishes for this project!
December 31st, 2008 at 12:36 pm
Since we celebrate Kwanzaa, which runs from December 26th to January 1st, it is part of our New Year’s tradition. Today the principle is KUUMBA or creativity. Definition: To do always as much as we can, in the way we can, in order to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than when we inherited it. Tomorrow will be our feast and the opening of the gifts we have for our children, one for each of the seven days and principles of Kwanzaa, the NGUZO SABA. Many blessings and wishes for a very Happy and prosperous New Year!
December 31st, 2008 at 2:36 pm
ip Bookreviewer, thank you for your compliment and for your recommendation.
Kimoko, thank you for yours as well.
It is important to celebrate and recognize traditions from all cultures. That is part of is important to to us at FHP and the Bur Bur and Friends children’s book series. Our Tagline at Farmer’s Hat Productions is “Growing Kids Through Diverse Learning Experiences” so educating and learning are values we place high on the list
We value your input!
December 31st, 2008 at 3:58 pm
We typically would go to (what we call) Old Year services (at church). We knew it would be an all-nighter. There was fellowship, talking, singing, stories (testimonies), etc. And then people would eat and ring in the New Year. Honestly, we were always found in church when the New Year came in. That was when I was younger. With children of our own, we tend to stay home. The fireworks would make them unable to sleep. lol
But church was a lot of fun because all of our friends were there, and it was better than being on the streets…..It is sad when there is too much partying and people choose to drink and drive. Sadly, I know about times people died as a result. It is not worth it to be out on the streets.
January 3rd, 2009 at 12:44 am
My daughter and I have been “just the two of us” since she was very young. I don’t know if you call it a tradition, but we insist on eating dinner together every night. I think that is how we became best friends. We plan trips, but no real “ritual” other than the family dinners. She cooks some nights, I cook others, but we absolutely wait for each other to get to the table before we eat. I will not even consider eating dinner without my daughter. It’s kinda weird because we seldom eat dinner without each other. She spends times with her friends eating out, she will bring something back to me. I may have drinks with my older pals, but I go home or meet my daughter somewhere. I am totally going to have seperation anxiety when she moves….might lose a few pounds too :0)