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What do Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, Christmas, St. Lucia's Day, Loi Krathong, Diwali, and the Winter Solstice have in common?

• They are celebrated in the winter.
• They are festivals of light.
• They should be fun and educational for kids.

This year, resist the temptation to buy things for the holidays and overbook your family. Instead focus on what is meaningful to you, your family, and your community. Take advantage of the opportunity to teach your children about their culture and other cultures. When kids see their culture validated through celebrations, they develop positive self-esteem. When they learn about other cultures, they develop tolerance and an appreciation for diversity.

5 easy ways to help young children learn what's important about the holidays:

1. Share or create your own family rituals and traditions.
   Many holiday traditions revolve around food, music, and special lighting. Children enjoy seeing and being involved in the whole preparation process, not just the end celebration. Use the everyday moments getting ready for your holiday celebrations to bond with your child. Read favorite storybooks out loud; sing together; start a family scrapbook or photo album; light candles at special times.
2. Strengthen family and community ties.
   Reserve time to be together with family, friends and neighbors. Avoid over-booking activities and going in too many different directions. People bond when they share unhurried moments together.
3. Focus on the needs of others.
   Much of the joy of the season comes from opening our hearts and experiencing the gift of giving. Young children can help make cookies or cards for others; they can choose toys or clothes they'd like to give away; they can visit elderly people who may be alone. Let them be a part of your volunteer experiences.
4. Learn about the history of a holiday or tradition together.
   Go to the library and check out books on holiday traditions that explain the significance of certain rituals. Share other languages with your child. The library has many books and songs recorded in other languages. If you speak another language, use picture books and translate into you native language. Invite people in your community with different cultural backgrounds to your home to share their traditions with you.
5. Create a peaceful environment.
   Turn off the television. Avoid taking young children to overcrowded stores. Babies and young children can be easily over-stimulated with the commercial excess of the season. Help them stay calm by focusing on them and spending quiet time together.

Rituals and traditions are not just for the holidays. Adults and children, even young ones, need rituals and traditions. They help give people a sense of connectedness, which builds self-esteem and makes people feel secure. View this month's Recommended Reading for more information on rituals, the holidays, and how children's connectedness with caring adults leads to healthy developmental outcomes.

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