For all you parents.....or anyone who was ever a child..... (page 3)

moonwillow

My 2 cents.

Kids don't need a ritual. Some sort of routine is good but, not a strict one you have to let them be kids and have fun in life. The two are pretty similar though depending how you look at it. Interesting post something to think about.

obiwan

Well they sure do. I used to dance around the fire naked when I was a kid. That was a ritual every Sunday after the meeting.

Carmel

Are you confusing structure with ritual? For mental development kids need structure which provides assurance that there is stability and predictablilty. As for ritual, if you define it as meaningless repetition or of habitual nonsensical behavior, they are not benefited. Ritual is part of mystical society that wants to put power into things that do not inheritantly have that power. Doing so confuses the developing mind and causes it to distrust the "story teller".

My advice, get rid of the ritual, replace it with structure. (the latter is defined as knowing that certain events will follow certain behavior). Being as consistent as possible will cause kids to grow up self-assured and able to face life with confidence.

carm

Surreptitious

I'm not talking about structure. I'm not talking about religion. I'm not talking about learning.

I'm talking about routine that has become ritualistic. As in some of the examples I sited earlier. Or as Dictionary.com says: "A state or condition characterized by the presence of established procedure or routine."

Syrup

Frannie Banannie

HIGH 5's, Syrup! That was TOOO GOOOD!

Frannie B

Lady Lee

Routine occurances that have transcended "routine" and become "ritual". I'm not referring to anything to do with religion.

I think this kind of ritual is important. As we grow older I think those rituals that bring us together as a part of family or community are the things we remember most; that give us a warm feeling of having belonged and been loved.