Teaching skills – like biking, or how to play a game – is hard for me; I find playing make believe rather tedious; and it takes every ounce of my self control and patience to stay calm while cooking and baking with my kids. But something that comes naturally and enjoyably to me as a mom is establishing and maintaining family traditions around holidays, birthdays and milestones. 

Part of the reason why I gravitate towards this aspect of parenting is that I find the philosophical reasons for cultivating family traditions convincing. Shared celebrations and repeated practices give family members a predictable sense of safety, anticipation, and memory. Being able to look forward to the same meaningful and fun events each year helps kids feel secure and cocooned within their family unit, and so does looking back on the memories stacked on top of each other, year after year. 

Traditions also serve to establish a unique family identity that’s based on values, culture, beliefs and morals. Sure, some traditions can begin in a haphazard manner, but often traditions are the fruit of intention. I, at least, put more reflection, thought and planning into the traditions that our family establishes than I do to the average Tuesday dinner, and much of that thinking is around passing down ethics and virtues without falling into lecture mode.

But also? I just find traditions fun! Celebrations, honoring milestones, and repeating practices that we’ve found give us life provides our family dedicated time to disconnect from the outside world and step beyond the regular-every-day to enjoy each other's company and build happy memories. 

Here are a few of my current favorite family traditions.

• Throughout February we share things that we love about each other over dinner. 
  
• On the first day of spring, we serve edible dirt for dinner and read Ogen Nash’s poem Spring Song
  
• We go to visit my sister and her family every fourth of July and always eat a Costco cake for dessert the first night we are there
  
• Our happy birthday tablecloth, banner and garlands get hung after bedtime the night before each family member’s birthday so that the children waken to a decorated house.
  
• We sing “The Litany of the Saints” on All Saints Day, and keep pictures of our deceased loved ones and favorite saints on the mantle throughout the month of November
  
• In our home, each child gets to pick dessert on their name saint’s feast day, and my husband and I give our godchildren a faith related present on their name saint’s feast day each year.

It’s with this last tradition in mind that I wrote today’s post. We all know that there is no shortage of stuff out there, and that we have endless options of toys, games, books and activities with which to delight our children on their birthdays, Christmas, and other gift giving occasions. But quality, beautiful and meaningful Catholic gifts, on the other hand? Those are a bit harder to find. 

House of Joppa curates a collection of ideal products for gifting to the loved ones in your life, including your children. Here are a few examples of gifts that I’m keeping on my short list for my children, godchildren, nieces, nephews and kids’ classmates for everything from Christmas, to birthdays, to feast days, to sacraments. 

Toys

We all know it to be true: kids like toys. Even children who are less inclined to play with toys for hours on end (e.g. my daughters, who are much more inclined to read, draw or lay around chatting with one another) typically love receiving new and exciting items. 

I love that the toys that House of Joppa carries are equal parts fun and instructional. For instance, this Quiet Mass Set is great for playing church and it also introduces children to the sacred vessels and parts of the Mass in a hands-on way. Likewise, this Saint Carlo Acutis Catholic Plush Doll is cozy and cuddly, and it invites children to grow curious about the patron saint of youth.

Books

When in doubt, give a book. You’ll be sure to please both parents and children with titles such as If the Pope Had a Puppy, Eucharistic Saints, and Princesses of Heaven. 

Holy Objects

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, a gift doesn’t necessarily have to appeal to a child in the moment that they receive it for it to be an excellent choice. My godparents were known to give me rather adult gifts throughout my childhood – a framed print, a beautiful piece of furniture, a classic novel – and guess what? I have that heirloom trunk, piece of art, and heavy book in my home today, whereas the toys are long gone. 

This crucifix and this Good Shepherd print manage to be child-friendly while also sure to appeal to your child through adulthood. 

If adult-like gifts are a bit of a stretch for you but you’d like to gift a holy object, try this mini figurine or daughter’s prayer rosary instead. 

Baby Gifts

Last but not least, sometimes you need a baby-specific gift for certain occasions (I’m looking at you, baby showers!). I can’t stop looking at this gorgeous Our Lady of Lourdes quilt, and given how much I relied on swaddling to calm my fussy babies, I’m always inclined to gift a thin, muslin blanket like this Good Shepherd Swaddle.