When you think back on your childhood, what memories come to mind? For many, it will be those of family holidays we looked forward to every year or smaller rituals like “Takeout Thursday” or game nights.
Family traditions are rituals that are regularly recreated within a family to strengthen relationships. Parenting expert Nikki Bush describes them as rituals that allow parents and children to bond, creating an important emotional anchor for children.
Speaking on 702 Talk Radio, Bush says children thrive when there are consistent family traditions, as they reinforce a sense of belonging.
“A ritual is something you do over and over again at the same sort of time. They can be daily, weekly, ceremonial and holiday rituals,” explains Bush. “Children learn best in concrete, real, experiential ways, and family traditions are a very personal experience. When a child participates in these traditions, it provides an anchor in the family’s value system. They allow children to keep coming back to revisit a memory.”
Bush gives examples of her family traditions, such as a stopover at the Wimpy restaurant in Colesberg, Northern Cape, during their annual holiday drive from Johannesburg to the Cape coast.
Family traditions help children create a positive outlook of the future, as it gives them something to look forward to. In turn, this can help children to be more resilient during difficulty or times of change.
Lasting family traditions
Family traditions can range from games and a special meal to an activity or a holiday. Boasting an abundance of fun activities for the entire family, holidaying at Sun City Resort has become a treasured tradition for many families who look forward to strengthening their bonds and relaxing in the sun after a busy year.
With a wide variety of accommodation options, from five-star opulence at The Palace to Sun Vacation Club’s luxury self-catering apartments, Sun City is the perfect destination for consolidating family traditions or creating lasting memories to form new ones.
Developing unique traditions requires a bit of creativity on the part of parents. With hundreds of Sun City activities on offer, from family fun to adrenalin-fuelled adventures, an annual holiday to South Africa’s largest resort takes the hassle out of creating indelible customs.
Here are other ideas on creating family traditions at Sun City:
Eating together
Bush says breaking bread – literally – as a family is an easy way to foster bonds. As South Africans, we know that great family holidays go hand in hand with braais. Each luxury apartment at Sun Vacation Club has a built-in braai.
When you are not on holiday, set aside one night a week for the family to prepare a meal and set the table together. Make this a technology-free dinner and be sure to share stories of what you are most grateful for as the year runs down.