Importance of Family Routines and Rituals

We are in an era where family time is sacrificed due to the hectic lifestyles so many people live. Research is showing that lack of routines and rituals in a family can affect the members’ well-being health. Routines and rituals actually offer stability and during times of stress and transition. The Journal of Family Psychology found that routines and rituals are associated with marital satisfaction, adolescents’ sense of personal identity, children’s health, academic achievement and stronger family relationships.

Examples of common routines are identified as dinnertime, bedtime, chores, and everyday activities such as talking on the phone or visiting with relatives. Frequently identified family rituals were identified as birthdays, Christmas, family reunions, Thanksgiving, Easter, Passover, funerals and Sunday activities including the “Sunday dinner.”

Studies have shown that during infancy and preschool, children are healthier and there behavior is better regulated when there are predictable routines in the family. “Children with regular bedtime routines get to sleep sooner and wake up less frequently during the night than those with less regular routines, according to one study. Regular routines in the household, according to the review, shorten bouts of respiratory infections in infants and improve preschool children’s health.”

Routines as simple as eating dinner together every night improve children’s health and also increase their academic performance. It also improves the respect and communication of all family members.

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