Comfort In The Familiar

A Great Idea …

“Children benefit from a family life that has an expected rhythm and routine to it… Children derive comfort from familiarity. . . It helps them feel more control of their lives.” (Laurence Steinberg, psychologist, in his book, The 10 Basic Principles of Good Parenting, p. 44)

In Other Words …

Routines and traditions help children feel safe. Children look forward to predictable activities. Reading books together, taking walks in the evening, visiting with relatives, eating dinner together-these give children things to anticipate gladly. Of course, occasional surprises have their place as well as they add zest to their safe-feeling lives.

How This Applies to You …

Look at your rituals and traditions. What might you add that would bring more tradition and closeness to your life with your children? Maybe you want to go to the library every Wednesday. Maybe you want to set a couple of days per week to go to the park. Maybe you want to create a time every week to listen to music and dance together. Build pleasant traditions into your life together.

To Find Out More …

For an excellent (and free!) program on parenting, see The Parenting Journey at www.arfamilies.org and if your children are younger than six, check out See the World Through My Eyes.

For more in-depth reading, we recommend Between Parent and Childby Haim G. Ginott or The Secure Child by Stanley Greenspan.

Author: H. Wallace Goddard

Wally Goddard is a retired professor of Family Life having served in Arkansas and Alabama. He developed programs on personal well-being, marriage, and parenting. He is well known for his many creative family programs, including The Marriage Garden, The Parenting Journey, and Blueprint for Happiness. Wally has authored or co-authored several books including Between Parent and Child, The Soft-Spoken Parent, and Drawing Heaven into Your Marriage. He has been recognized by his colleagues with several awards including the Outstanding Family Life Educator Award. Wally and his wife, Nancy, have three adult children, fourteen grandchildren, and have cared for many foster children over the years. Wally describes Nancy as the finest human being he has ever known. View all posts by H. Wallace Goddard