Perhaps you have ever stopped to take into account why we celebrate birthdays, anniversaries and holidays? It’s not simply a festive thing to do, it’s ways to stop, cherish and reaffirm things that we value inside our lives. We show how much we care about our families whenever we celebrate their birthdays; we underline how important our relationships are whenever we celebrate anniversaries; so when we celebrate holidays and other significant days — such as Earth Day — we show those all around us, like our kids, where our values lie.
Celebrations are actually an excellent and joyful way to teach your kids parties what you genuinely believe in. So when you incorporate nature and outdoor play into celebrations you’re letting your loved ones know that the natural world, and connecting with it, is important-so important it is from the things you cherish most.
Also, celebrations spark joy. And joy facilitates learning. Win, win. Celebrations include sweet pleasures like food, music, games and fun, helping us hardcode a link with pleasure and joy and whatever our company is celebrating. Plus, we know that whenever nature and play are participating, our kids engage even more in the rituals and celebrations. Win, win.
But celebrations do not need to be reserved for major holidays, especially outdoor celebrations. The best lessons in life are learned through what’s repeatedly emphasized in our lives. A collection of a large number of small celebrations builds the habit to celebrate and subsequently hard codes virtues and values that help our kids develop just how they see and experience their worlds.
There is a substantial amount of research that supports the countless benefits of incorporating a gratitude practice into a child’s life, as well as our very own lives. Whenever we allow ourselves to celebrate the flowers getting into bloom, sunlight shining on our gardens or even the first snowfall, our company is essentially expressing how grateful we live for the wonders within nature. And we’re passing that gratitude practice to our children.
To start enjoying smaller celebrations, you can simply add a little ceremony to a trailside snack. Bring sweet herbal tea with you on the trail and “cheers” to the items you want to celebrate today. Or, simply take time to decelerate, close your eyes and breathe deep before you start to share what you would like to celebrate to help make the moment distinct and special.
Or, just start small. The summertime is a superb time to try out this type of practice because there are so many hours and treasures to experience this year. Teach your kids the way to get into celebrating by needs to celebrate the items you notice, the items you love and the things that you are most grateful. Come harvest time, we bet your kids will learn to suggest little celebrations, showing you that the seeds you’re planting are taking root!