Traditions help families strengthen bonds and make treasured memories. While we often associate annual customs with the winter holiday season, there’s no reason to wait until next December for family fun. Below, you’ll find suggestions for twelve different traditions to start in 2023.
You can find more seasonal fun, including Family Friendly New Year’s Eve Celebrations in Des Moines, 23 Things to Do on New Year’s Day in Des Moines, and in our Holiday Guide.
Here’s 12 fun family traditions to start in 2023:
Build a snowman in JANUARY.
Bundle up for a snowman-building extravaganza! Be sure to photograph the results to watch your construction skills improve from year to year.
Celebrate your family in FEBRUARY.
Start a tradition of creating and sharing homemade Valentine’s Day cards and/or small treats within the family.
Visit a museum in MARCH.
Whether your kids are into art, science, or history, you’re sure to find a museum to entertain and educate your family. Schedule an annual trip to the same museum or sample a different one each year.
Get active in APRIL.
Take advantage of warmer temperatures by signing up for a family-friendly 5K walk or run in your area. Training for the event will give family members a shared goal plus plenty of chances to enjoy quality time together.
Go fly a kite in MAY.
Kite flying can be fun for adults and downright magical for children. Let your kids pick out basic character-themed kites or upgrade to one of the fancier ones.
Dine al fresco in JUNE.
Enjoy a picnic at a nearby park. Whether you source elaborate recipes from Pinterest or just pack PB&Js and chips, everything tastes better outside.
Try for a hole-in-one in JULY.
Enjoy some friendly competition during a family game of putt-putt. To level the playing field, allow each player under 18 a handicap based on age.
Attend a fair or festival in AUGUST.
Schedule an annual trip to a local county fair, community festival or the Iowa State Fair to eat cotton candy, ride the Ferris wheel and admire prizewinning livestock.
Eat locally in SEPTEMBER.
Early fall is a great time to visit your local farmer’s market. Shop for produce, bread, spices and more while introducing your children to some of the folks who make the food they eat.
Pick pumpkins in OCTOBER.
Let each family member choose their perfect pumpkin, then devote an afternoon to decorating them for display. For kid-friendly alternatives to carving, consider paint, stickers or plastic push-in pieces.
Give back in NOVEMBER.
Use this season of thankfulness to teach your children about giving to others. Take Christmas cards to a nearby nursing home, shop for gifts to contribute to your local toy drive or contribute financially to an organization whose work is meaningful to your family.
Embrace the cold in DECEMBER.
There’s no need to hide from the cold! Fun can be had outside all year round. Have a winter bonfire, take up a winter sport, go ice skating, and more!
Whether you use these ideas or come up with new traditions of your own, have a fun and fabulous 2023!
