Family Routines and Rituals

Mary Spagnola, PhD; Barbara Fieses, PhD

Family Routines and Rituals Routines and rituals provide predictable

structure that guides behavior and emotional structure that supports early development.

Variations in the practice of routines and the meanings connected to rituals are associated with variations in socioemotional, language, academic, and social skill development

Family Routines and Rituals Routines and Rituals- Both refer to specific,

repeated practices that involve 2 or more family members.

Routines- Communication is instrumental, monetary time commitment involved, and are repeated regularly. They hold no special meaning.

Rituals- Communication has symbolic meaning, the time commitment and continuity of the ritual continues through generations.

Dinnertime Features of both routines and rituals Some practices do not have special meaning

Distributing food, doing dishes, etc. Meaningful and symbolic elements

Saying grace, eating certain foods, telling stories Rituals are distinct and unique to a

particular family, reflecting family identity, culture, and shared values.

Family Routines and Language Routines are often rich with language,

exposing children to a broad range of its use. Narratives Explanations

Meta- Language- draws the listener’s attention to language by using terms such as “say, ask, talk, and read” Common at the dinner table

Clarifications Cultural rules

Academic Skill Development Reading routines support development of

early literacy skills. Encourages continued enjoyment of

reading into school years Joint book reading Routines with book reading Family routines ease transition to school by teaching what will be culturally expected in school.

Social Skill Development Routines and Rituals provide a structure

for the socialization of culturally acceptable behavior.

Preschool years- begin making choices about routines and practice new skills.

Cultural differences Foster skill development

and connections with others

Family Routines, Rituals, and Relationships Family rituals and relationship

satisfaction during the transition to parenthood are associated

Variations in family interaction patterns at ritual gatherings are related to child socioemotional functioning.

Marital Satisfaction and Family Stability New parents must learn to integrate

feeding, bathing, and naptime routines into their lives

These routines are established easier when the marital bond is stronger.

Routines and Rituals evolve over time. “Couplehood” to “Parenthood”

Parents of infants report fewer rituals and less investment in them than parents of preschoolers

Marital Satisfaction and Family Stability Marital stability is associated with

healthy child socioemotional adjustment.

Family routines and rituals are associated with the quality of the marital relationship.

Mothers of preschoolers reported less satisfaction in their marriage when little meaning was associated with their family rituals

Divorce Divorce disrupts family life Less family stability and consistency Routines and rules may be different in each

home. Parents who resolve their differences and

agree on a set of rules and routines in both homes, provide the most stability for their child.

Meaningful rituals may protect children from the disruptions associated with divorce.

Emotional Investments Repeated family gatherings offer the

opportunity to create strong emotional bonds. Dinnertime conversations

Single Parents- more social interaction with children.

Married Parents- spend 25% of mealtime talking to each other

Routine gatherings form the foundation for rituals that are built on emotional connections.

Family Transactions and Routines Parent must adjust routines and rituals to

particular child. The child contributes to the regulation of family

life. It takes time to develop routines. A pattern or routine that works for one child

may not work for another child. Dynamic interplay of the individual

characteristics of the children and the parents that form the collective routines of family life.

Regular sleep cycle

Biological Rhythms

Heart Beat

Worry & Concern

Parent Style Observant

Calmed by back rub

Establish back rub routine

Settled to sleep

Parent feels confident

Parent

Child

Transaction Model Example

Social skill impairment

Feeding difficulty

Intrusive interaction

style

Disengage and food refusal

Persistence and coaxing

Tantrum

Gives up routine

Parent

Child

Transaction Model Example

Mechanism of Effect Three mechanism of effect are

associated with the creation of predictable routines.

Parental efficacy Behavior monitoring Coherence of family relationships

Predictable and regular routines mediate the effects of parental efficacy on positive child outcomes

Parental Efficacy Important for families with young children. Mothers of infants felt more competent

with their parenting role if they reported regular household routines.

Parents who engage in more daily caregiving routines

More comfortable with the tasks Greater sense of accomplishment Routines more likely to continue over time

Behavior Monitoring Monitoring is an important part of family

routines More active monitoring decreases risky

behaviors in children Parents who feel competent

in carrying out routines may be better equipped to track their children’s activities.

Coherence and Family Relationships The symbolic nature of family rituals

and the emotional connections that are made over time.

Adaptive family functioning-rituals promote forming trustworthy and reliable relationships

Ritual Meaning Quality of Life

Assessment for young children Questionnaires

Advantages Time and cost efficient Stronger psychometrics Comparisons across groups

Direct Observations Observational methods can involve direct or videotaped

observations of families carrying out daily routines. Interviews

Families can clarify and expand on meaning of practices Track across generations

Disadvantages Not as useful for

interventions

Interventions Remediation

Changes the way the child behaves toward the parent.

Redefinition Changes the way the parent interprets

the child’s behavior. Reeducation

Changes the way the parent acts with the child through increased knowledge.

Conclusion Families can identify activities that they

regularly engage in, look forward to, and would miss if not regularly practiced as a group.

Routines and rituals ease transitions and foster a sense of autonomy while maintaining connections with the family.

Crash in the Andes The survivors became a family Routines

Assigned tasks Food Rationing Sleep Assignments and Rotation

Rituals Nightly Rosary