DIY Projects & Activities
Ask grown adults what they remember about childhood and they often describe traditions: Friday pizza night, the annual fishing trip, the way Dad woke them up on birthdays. These family traditions ideas are things you can start this month. Some are weekly, some yearly, and several involve making something together.
Traditions give kids something to look forward to and a sense of belonging. They say: this is our family, and this is what we do. During hard times, like a move or a divorce, familiar traditions can be a comfort.
The best traditions are simple and repeatable. A tradition you can keep doing for years beats an elaborate one that fizzles after once.
Dad makes pancakes, and kids pick the toppings or shapes.
Rotate who picks the game each week.
Every other Saturday, each person picks a book.
At dinner, everyone shares the best and hardest part of their day.
One-on-one outing with each child, with the child choosing the activity.
Birthdays are a natural place to start. Try a birthday interview: ask your child the same ten questions every year, like favorite food, best friend and what they want to be, and save the answers. Years later, you'll have a record of how they've grown.
Other ideas: decorate their door the night before, take a yearly photo in the same spot, or let them pick dinner. For holidays, see holiday crafting workshops and seasonal celebrations for handmade decoration ideas.
Some traditions involve building or making something together every year:
Let your kids help design it. When they have a say, they're more invested. Keep it low-cost and low-stress. Pick a regular time so it doesn't depend on remembering.
If your family is blended or you share custody, traditions can bridge two homes. Create some that happen only at your house, and give each child their own tradition with you. See family traditions for more ideas, and the building resilient families topic for how rituals help in hard times.
Some of the most meaningful traditions are just between a father and one child. A yearly trip to a ballgame, a camping weekend, a first-day-of-school breakfast or a special handshake only the two of you know.
With several kids, give each one their own ritual so no one feels left out. These one-on-one traditions become especially important as kids get older and family time gets busier. A teenager who still looks forward to the annual fishing trip with Dad has a built-in chance to talk.
Write each tradition down somewhere, like a page in a family journal, so it doesn't get lost when life gets busy.
Every family's traditions are a little different. Share yours in the Phenomenal Fatherhood community, and borrow ideas from other dads. Return to DIY projects and activities for more hands-on projects.
FAQ
Pick something simple and repeatable, involve your kids in choosing it, attach it to a regular time like Saturday mornings or birthdays, and keep doing it even when it's small.
Saturday pancakes, a family game night, a library trip, highs-and-lows at dinner and a movie night where kids take turns choosing are all easy weekly traditions.
Traditions give kids a sense of belonging, something to look forward to and stability during change. They also create shared memories that last into adulthood.
Keep going
DIY Projects and Activities for Dads and KidsDIY projects for dads and kids: toddler learning games, family traditions, outdoor fun and kitchen science, with ideas by age. Pick one and start building.
Building Resilient FamiliesBuilding resilient families: how dads help a household get through job loss, illness, moves and money stress together. What this webinar topic covers and why.Ask a question, meet other dads in the 24/7 room, or join the community for resources and support at every stage.
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