HPC_family_culture_memefb

If you put a bike helmet or a seatbelt on your kids to protect their bodies from harm…what’s the equivalent for their minds and emotions?

I submit that it’s a strong family identity and family culture, built through traditions.

Today we’ll talk about:

1. How traditions create a family identity
2. How having a strong family identity grounds children and increases emotional well-being
3. Why you want to be intentional about “who” your family is and how your kids feel about it
4. Perfect opportunities (holidays, seasons, COOKING!) to set up traditions and build that family culture that will protect your kids, give them something to cling to and return to, and not get tossed about on the winds of the rest of the culture, trying to get its claws into them.

I challenge you to discuss what you want your family identity to be this week and build some intentional traditions and phrases you say to make that a reality. Ground your kids at home so they know who they are when they leave!

If you’d like a little hand-holding to get your kids involved in the kitchen, there’s no harm in part of an identity being, “I know how to ask for help.” I can help!

Join Kids Cook Real Food™ this holiday season, and I’ll make it easy for you to teach your kids over 30 basic cooking skills and spend quality time CONNECTING in the kitchen.

I can’t wait to cheer your kids on!

 

Can’t see the video? Watch “Creating Family Culture” here on YouTube.

No time to watch the whole video? Here are the notes!

Family Identity Video Time Stamps

  • 0:17: I keep hearing the phrases “family identity” and “family culture.” Today we’re going to talk about how to build a family identity, why it’s so important, and how our traditions come into the kitchen.

If we create a strong family identity, we can protect our kids from some of the negative influences of our culture. -Katie Kimball

  • 2:24: What do I mean by developing a family identity? It isn’t just about the traditions you have, but also what you say about yourselves. We say “Kimballs are tough!”
  • 3:34: An example of a tradition in our family is that for the last 10 years we’ve asked friends to make donations to a local charity rather than give gifts for birthdays.

We build our family identity by what we do and by what we say. -Katie Kimball

  • 5:37: We celebrate our children’s baptism day each year after their birthdays. We have a tradition that serves to reinforce the idea that privileges are privileges and not rights.
  • 7:10: Holiday traditions can help build a family identity as well. In general, traditions ground us and connect us. If you choose traditions infused with your family values then they’ll also build your family culture.

RELATED: Get more tips for creating family harmony.

  • 8:03: In 2010 a study from Emory University showed that the more kids knew about their family stories, the better their emotional wellbeing is. They have a better sense of identity, feel more grounded, and a sense of belonging.

I believe that the kitchen is the best place to build connections with your family history. -Katie Kimball

  • 9:06: When we cook together, we build new memories and can connect with our history by cooking grandma’s pie recipe or your great-great-aunt’s marshmallow brownies.
  • 10:07: I just read that when kids aren’t making eye contact, they have more brain space to process what you’re saying. That must be why conversations in cars and kitchens when you’re side-by-side go well.

We put the bike helmets on to protect our kids physically, but what are we doing to protect their minds, emotions, and sense of self? -Katie Kimball

  • 11:42: I challenge you today to talk to your spouse and kids to figure out who you are as a family. Pick some words or phrases to describe what you do and who you are. What traditions can you create to develop that family culture?

Resources We Mention for Developing Family Culture

Building family identity through traditions