With global changes in social behavior, which is primarily an aftermath of changes in the economic patterns and consumerism, children have become major victims. A child does not know what its like to have a full family around. Not only parents, grandparents as well had so much to offer in the lives of children just a generation before. Not only parents, but the elders together had a great positive impact on a child’s mental and emotional growth. The problems have increased in a big way with the onset of unitary families. Behavior of the children has become greatly affected because of not having enough time spent with parents and dear ones. As a result, many children fall prey to ‘Alienation Syndrome’. Most families have both parents working. Because of this, children have been forced to make a world of their own. It is filled with commodities like the television, computer games, and eating junk food most often. All of this speaks of emptiness developed due to lack of adult supervision. Coming into an empty home, managing a meal which is often not eaten as they do not seem interesting is a regular problem. Eating food in front of a television program shows their constant need to fill up the vacuum existing with the absence of parents or dear ones around. This can be easily presumed as a symptom of frustration for almost all children. Company of their parents is what a child misses and needs the most. In the process, they get introverted and soon develop behavioral problems that go unnoticed. In the process, most children these days tend to make a world, so private that the parents cannot easily pervade. They move away from the unknown or even prefer to live within their personal beliefs in their own world. Parents mostly cannot find the reasons of such behavior and disapprove such ways. But it should strike the modern parents to check out if the child has developed ‘Alienation Syndrome’ or not. Coming to parents; it is not an easy day for them either. Good parenting is the dream of every couple. At the end of a full working day at office, most parents are left with little time to divide with their children, cooking a meal, managing other household chores and a little time for themselves. Parents cannot be blamed, as they have to run along with the vicious pace of needs for a decent life. Many a parent is found to be lost as to how to make their children happy, to see a smile on their child’s face. A gift or some junk food becomes the daily bribe. Children get used to expecting such a thing every day and this cycle continues. Frankly, most children today do not know the immense fun that used to be earlier, in getting a gift. Lack of time and company to give children, and fulfilling the dream of good parenting is gradually falling apart. It has become a world of compensation all the way.

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Family Rituals that Build Strength Stability is extremely important in the life of a child, and one way that parents can ensure their children feel stable is through family rituals. Not only do family rituals or routines provide children with a sense of inner security and stability, but these routines also serve to strengthen bonds within the family.

Family ritual and routines can be something that occurs daily, monthly, or yearly. It will all depend on the family’s unique circumstances and individual preferences. There is no right or wrong way to establish a family ritual; however, these routines should be carried out regularly. Otherwise, these actions will not be “routine,” will fail to instill security in children, and will fail to build strength within the family unit. What exactly qualifies as routines and rituals?

A ritual is a tradition that a family creates based on their own personal beliefs. For example, celebrating holidays, seasons, or family togetherness, such as a family vacation, can be considered a family ritual. In some cases, parents may blend customs or rituals from their childhood to create new traditions or rituals for their own family. Rituals are most often celebrated on an annual basis, but they can hold special significance for the children. Children expect for these rituals to be celebrated each year, and they look forward with great anticipation to time together with the family.

When a family has its own special way of celebrating, it creates strong bonds that cannot be easily broken. Children will keep memories of family rituals with them forever, and these times spent with family will be dear to their heart. Routines are another excellent way to strengthen family ties. Children thrive on stability, and routines are familiar patterns on which children can depend. Routines set boundaries for children, gives them a sense of security, and helps instill responsibility in children. Familiar, routine patterns can help the entire family be more organized and efficient. Routines help the family to be stronger because each individual knows what is expected of them, but each member also knows that to accomplish some goals teamwork is necessary. Daily routines do not always have to equal daily schedules. In some cases, a daily routine can be as simple as a unique way a child is tucked in to bed each night or something special that a parent does when a child arrives home from school.

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