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Beauty of Rituals

When we create beautiful rituals for children, we are giving them an irresistible invitation to participate in something meaningful and to engage and connect with others. The thoughtfulness of a ritual created by the head, heart and the hands resonate with all that it is to be human – moving us to revisit this joyful familiarity again and again.

Rituals are different from routines. Rituals can be seen as how we transform the mundane routine into a sacred special time together, making the ordinary moments extraordinary. Rituals and rhythms give children the predictability to feel safe, where they build their sense of the known and a sense of security.

Christmas time for many families, involves ‘traditions’ or ‘rituals’, such as decorating a tree, sharing a family meal, or visiting friends and family/whānau. Invite tamariki to participate in the preparation of special rituals; it’s an excellent way to nurture a collaborative relationship with them - helping to encourage feelings of importance, inclusion and achievement. Here’s some simple ideas for this time of year:

• Make hand-made cards for whānau
• Bake a special recipe together
• Make craft decorations.

You can create rituals throughout the year, such as:

• A special recipe or meal that’s prepared only on birthdays.
• A special bedtime story read each evening, or a special lullaby sung.
• Older children may enjoy a moment at the end of each day to share a moment that brought them joy. You can take turns to ask each other about the day and explore the feelings that may arise from this. Taking a few minutes to really listen to your child will increase their sense of self-worth and belonging, and they can drift off to sleep feeling loved and secure.
• Each Spring, you might put a special plant into the family garden.

“Poipoia te kakano kia puawai”

Nurture the seed, and it will blossom

Blog inspired from Kimberley Crisp