Historically, rituals and traditions have been important to every culture. They can be the glue that connects families every day and helps them through challenging times. Although the research to support this statement is clear, there is not nearly as much research about the benefits of the rituals and traditions in a school family. Anecdotally, the evidence is clear. While writing her master’s thesis, Jacky Howell heard from many former children and families. They shared their memories, including many about the rituals and traditions that were part of the class and program where Jacky was a teacher. The impact and importance of these rituals far outlasted the time the children and families spent in Jacky’s class. As you will read in this book, Rituals and Traditions: Fostering a Sense of Community in Preschool, many families have continued these rituals and traditions. It is clear from the existing research and anecdotal information that this topic is critical to the field of early childhood education.

This book provides information, anecdotes, and how to’s so you can create rituals and traditions in your own classroom or preschool program.

We hope that this book will encourage you to examine the rituals you have created or inspire you to begin developing rituals and traditions. We would love to hear about the rituals and traditions you develop. Write to us at ritualsandtraditions@gmail.com.