How Holiday Traditions are Helpful for Teens and Families
The holiday season can feel magical in Birmingham, Alabama, from the Christmas lights at the Birmingham Zoo to the Nutcracker Ballet at the Alabama Theatre. There’s no shortage of festive fun: Santa sightings, holiday parades in Homewood and Vestavia Hills, movie nights with hot chocolate, decorating cookies, and family drives to see neighborhood lights.
When your kids are little, it’s easy to embrace these traditions. Their wonder and excitement make it all feel worth it. But when your child becomes a teenager, it can feel harder to keep the magic alive. Maybe they roll their eyes at decorating cookies or groan when you suggest watching a holiday movie together. You may find yourself wondering: Should we even keep doing these traditions?
At Sparrow Counseling, we say: Yes, keep the holiday traditions.
Even if your teen doesn’t show it in the same way, they still benefit from the rhythm, meaning, and connection those traditions provide. In fact, family rituals and routines are especially powerful during adolescence, a season marked by uncertainty, identity shifts, and emotional intensity.
Here’s why holiday traditions still matter:
1. Traditions create connection, even when teens act like they don’t care.
Teenagers may not squeal with excitement over a gingerbread house like they used to, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t enjoying it. Shared traditions offer a built-in opportunity for connection. Whether it's baking together, piling into the car to see Christmas lights, or teasing each other during a holiday movie night, these moments foster bonding and create memories that stick (even if your teen doesn’t admit it right away).
2. Traditions reinforce identity and stability.
Adolescence is a time of change. Hormones, friendships, academic pressure, body image, and questions about the future can leave teens feeling untethered. Rituals, especially ones that show up year after year, remind your teen where they belong. They offer consistency, safety, and a sense of "this is who we are." Even small traditions (like a favorite ornament or baking the same cookies each year) can provide a sense of grounding.
3. Traditions communicate values and meaning.
As kids grow up, parents often wonder if their values are “sticking.” Traditions are one way to keep those values visible. Whether rooted in faith, service, family time, or celebration, your traditions help reinforce what matters most. When you prioritize meaningful rituals together, you model intentionality and invite your teen to reflect on what they believe, too.
The bottom line?
Even if your teen groans at the group photo or spends more time on their phone than you’d like, keep showing up. Keep inviting. Keep carving out space for joy, connection, and tradition. These rituals don’t just make holidays “fun”; they help your teen feel anchored, seen, and safe.
If your teen or family is struggling this holiday season, support is available.
At Sparrow Counseling, we offer teen therapy and family counseling for families navigating stress, transitions, or emotional overwhelm, especially around the holidays. We create space for connection and healing, no matter how messy or complicated things feel right now.
Ready to connect with a counselor in Birmingham, AL?
Here’s how to get started:
Reach out to Sparrow Counseling for a free 15-minute consultation
Learn more about our caring, experienced teen and family therapists
Get the support you need for a calmer, more connected holiday season
If you have additional questions about Teen Counseling, visit our blogs for help:
Questions to ask a prospective teen therapist
If you are divorced and looking for help with co-parenting through the holidays, visit these blogs:
Co-Parenting & Holidays: Tips for Success (part 1)
Tips from a coparenting counselor: Rethinking holiday visitation custody schedules (part 2)
Other Services Offered at Sparrow Counseling
At Sparrow Counseling, we offer in-person and online therapy in the state of Alabama. In addition to teen counseling, our team specializes in family therapy, co-parenting counseling, blended family counseling, couples retreats, premarital counseling and pre-engagement counseling, discernment counseling, and more in Birmingham, Alabama. Learn more by checking out our FAQs and Blog!
Written by Sara Hadgraft, LMFT, LPC, founder of Sparrow Counseling in Birmingham, AL. Sara is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Licensed Professional Counselor with over 30 years of experience helping couples and families navigate major life transitions. She specializes in marriage counseling, divorce recovery, and co-parenting support, offering compassionate, evidence-based guidance to help clients heal, communicate, and reconnect.
