Hooray! Your T is for Tot box has arrived, but now what? How can you start a new family tradition with your preschooler? A tradition that would be memorable, meaningful, and magnificent. What creative ideas will cultivate this special time of bonding together through play? What strategy will make this box feel easy to do and something that the whole family will look forward to each month? Let’s talk about it!

First, let’s define tradition and its importance.  Merriam-Webster defines tradition as an “inherited, established, or customary pattern of thought, action, or behavior”. Traditions allow children to experience what their family considers valuable or important. When considering starting a tradition with young children, one key technique is to strive to do something consistent, interactive, and captivating that fosters the treasure of time and learning, such as your T is for Tot subscription box.

Here are some simple activities you can start doing today to make your family tradition memorable.

1. Family Mailbox Check- Children often notice adults checking their mailbox, but doing it as a family makes it "extra special" and increases excitement and anticipation.
2. Can You Guess It? - Encourage your child to guess what’s inside before you open the box. This will spark further curiosity and open up a discussion.
3. Unbox It Together - Resist the urge to take over the moment and freely explore the materials as a family.
4. Unplug/Remove the “Screens” - For memories to be memorable, remove all distractions; the goal is to be present. An unknown author once said that when it comes to raising children, “the days are long, but the years are short.”
5. T is for Tot Time - Verbally announce to your child that it is time for T is for Tot. You can have a scheduled time of the day to explore activities once a month or spread the activities out throughout the month.

Remember, it does not take much time to make a memorable moment, but with a little intentionality and prioritization, a simple moment can become a great one.

Next, T is for Tot is full of interactive and engaging activities, but how can you make using your box a meaningful tradition for your family?

Let Them Decide - It’s important to know that when we give children autonomy to decide which activity they want to do first, they are more likely to be engaged.

Play with Them - Join the fun by exploring the materials with them. For example: in the Human Body Kit, pretend to be the patient while your child explores the role of a doctor.

Storytime - Timing is vital when reading to young children. Try implementing these simple strategies:

1. Snack and Storytime - Nothing beats a good snack and story as you read a book from the kit.
2. Bedtime Story - According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, “Research has shown that reading together with infants and young children significantly strengthens their relationships with parents and caregivers, promoting early brain development and attachment during crucial growth stages. This lays the groundwork for school readiness and long-term benefits throughout life.”
3. Read in unconventional places - Why not read under the table, tree, or hallway? Or perhaps try building a fort using blankets and pillows.
4. Read the book in sections - Resist the belief that you must read it all in one setting; it is okay to read a book in small parts at a time.
5. Read with a puppet or props - Props or puppets are easy literacy strategies that can quickly grasp children’s attention.
6. Sing the book/Change your voice – Often, music or changing your voice is a simple attention-getter strategy that has the potential to make reading more captivating.
7. Ask questions as you read - To increase engagement and ensure comprehension, asking questions throughout the book is critical.
8. Play “I Spy” as you read - There is no secret that children love to play games. If you are reading Me and My Amazing Body by Joan Sweeny, why not pause and encourage children to find the location of those body parts?
9. Storyteller Swap/ Picture Storytelling - Instead of reading to your child, encourage your child to read you by describing what is happening on each page.
10.  Where is the book? - As you and your child pull different objects out of the box, ask your child, “Is this a book?” until you get to the actual book. For things that are not the book, ask your child “If it’s a book, what do you think it is?” This game introduces children to new vocabulary words and can help build on previous knowledge.

Lastly, how do you start a new family tradition with your preschooler that is magnificent? Here are some simple tactics:

Encourage Open-Ended Play - Feel free to allow children to explore materials in new and unexpected ways. For example, The Human Body Kit includes handmade playdough, why not encourage your child(ren) to use playdough to make and create other things?

T is for Tot Play Date - Why not invite a friend for T is for Tot time? Socialization is very important at this age as they are learning what a friend is and how to interact with others.

T is for Tot Memory Book - Make a book using construction paper, hole punch, and ribbon. Take pictures, print them, and place them in your book. As a family, write words that describe what was happening in the photo.

In conclusion, starting a monthly tradition as a family with your preschooler that is memorable, meaningful, and magnificent helps to secure a bond and encourage a love for learning by providing a variety of hands-on activities for the whole family to do together. It gives something for the family to do that fosters interaction, communication, and engagement. Making T is for Tot a monthly tradition gives an easy family activity to do without having to plan or figure it out. Which activity did you like the most? What tip did you find most helpful?

References

American Academy of Pediatrics Early Literacy Article

Tradition Definition