Holiday Tradition: Important for Children

By Marie Hunt
Mommy MD Staff Writer

Parents across the country are getting ready to celebrate the holidays with their children. Child psychology experts recommend that parents take into account the age of their child before selecting holiday activities. Understanding where the child is developmentally, they say, will help the parents give their child an enjoyable holiday experience.

Although an infant's memory is very short, with simple object recognition lasting no longer than six days, many parents want to find ways for their baby to experience the holiday season. Experts suggest holding the baby within 14 inches of decorations and lights, as their vision is limited. Infants enjoy tracking brightly colored objects that are held in front of their eyes, and with fully developed hearing by the age of one month, they may be soothed by softly playing music.

According to developmental psychologist Judith Hudson, by 14 to 18 months children are able to retain long term memories of specific experiences. This is a good age to begin involving the child in family traditions. By the age of 2 or 3, children appreciate ritual, and this is a good time to explain traditions and the reason behind them.

As the child grows, holiday traditions become very important. Linda Gulyn, a professor of psychology at Marymount University who specializes in child development, emphasizes the importance of family traditions for children, saying that they place importance on certain rituals, not because of their meaning, but because of the relational experiences that help them bond with their family members. Recent surveys have found that adults continue traditions they experienced as children, such as making specific foods and watching certain holiday television specials, because a major portion of their childhood memories are based around holiday experiences.

References

http://www.babycenter.com/0_your-babys-holiday-an-age-by-age-guide_9830.bc
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/06/AR2006120602196.html
http://goliath.ecnext.com/coms2/gi_0199-2198896/National-Survey-Reveals-That-More.html