Traditions are a powerful way to keep your internet safety goals consistent and meaningful. They help you communicate your beliefs to your kids in a more natural and lasting way than just setting rules or giving orders. When it comes to internet safety, the goal of your traditions should be to create meaningful moments that strengthen your family’s relationship with technology. These can be tech-free or techful—and both can serve a valuable purpose.
🎲 Tech-Free 🎲
Create time to remind your family that the best connections happen face-to-face; in the laughter, the creativity, the shared memories, and the meaningful moments you create together.
Gratitude
Set aside time each week for everyone to share a few things they’re grateful for. It’s a simple way to build connection, shift focus away from screens, and boost everyone’s mood.
Bonus idea: Make it into a game! Try using something like the Graticube, or create your own gratitude challenge to keep things fresh and fun.
Outdoor Adventures
Head outside and enjoy the fresh air. Whether you’re in the suburbs or the heart of a city, there’s always something you can do outdoors—walk, hike, bike, play, or even plan a weekend camping trip.
Bonus idea: Serve others! Pick up garbage on a trail, set up a free lemonade stand, or walk around near the homeless shelter and hand out hygiene bags or fresh fruit to those in need.
Skit Night
Let the kids take the stage and put on a show! Give them a prompt—or let their imaginations run wild—and watch what they come up with.
Bonus idea: Invite your kids’ friends and their parents over to turn it into a full-blown performance night. The more, the merrier!
Game Time
Break out the board games, yard games, or even old-school card games. There’s something special about gathering around a table and laughing over a friendly competition.
Bonus idea: Let the winner pick the next game, or even host the next game night
Cooking Together
Choose a recipe as a family and prepare a meal together. Make sure to pick something that enables everyone to play a part in preparing the meal.
Bonus idea: Blindfold half of the family, and have the other half direct them as they cook or bake something (be extra safe near sharp or hot things!)
Shark Tank
Challenge your kids to invent a product or pitch a business idea to a panel of “sharks” (a.k.a. parents and siblings). It’s fun, creative, and sneakily educational—they’ll practice public speaking, problem-solving, and thinking outside the box.
Bonus idea: Make it goofy! Require that every pitch be intentionally ridiculous for a lot of laughs..
Theme Night
Pick a theme (like “Decades Night” or “Backwards Night”) and plan your food, clothes, and activities around it.
Bonus idea: Combine this with a techful tradition! You could watch a movie one week, and then do a theme night based on that movie the next week
DIY
Work on a craft or project as a group. You could build something, paint, or even learn a new hands-on skill together.
Bonus idea: Take a class together! Look into family dance classes at a community center, shop time at your local hardware store, or a planting course at a nursery.
🎮 Techful 🎮
Intentional ways to use technology with your family for shared experience and purpose
Sports Night
Got a big game coming up in someone’s favorite sport? Turn it into a family event! Host a watch party at home, make snacks, and invite friends or neighbors to join the fun. You could make it a yearly tradition (like with the Super Bowl or World Series) or something you do weekly during your favorite sports season.
Bonus idea: Make fun “bets” on the game—nothing serious, just a little friendly competition. Whoever wins gets to pick the next family dinner spot!
Gaming Time
If your kids love video games, why not jump in and play with them? Whether you’re teaming up or facing off, it’s a great way to bond, laugh, and yes—maybe even get schooled by your 10-year-old.
Bonus idea: Rotate between modern nights (where the kids pick the games) and throwback nights (where you introduce them to the classics you played growing up). It’s a win-win—you share a bit of nostalgia and maybe even reclaim your high score crown.
Family FaceTime
Have family members who live far away? Use video calls to stay connected. Set a regular time to sit down as a family and chat with grandparents, cousins, or distant friends. It’s a great reminder that technology, when used well, can strengthen real relationships.
Bonus idea: Want to take it to the next level? Try using a tool like Teleparty to sync up a movie or show with relatives and watch it together in real time. You can chat or video call during the show and enjoy the experience together, even from miles apart.
Movie Night
Streaming is easy, but there’s still something special about going to the theater. Plan a night out as a family to catch a new release on the big screen—it can turn a regular evening into something special.
Bonus idea: Turn it into a full event! Go out for dinner first, grab ice cream after, or even dress up as your favorite characters. And the next day? Act out some of the movie scenes together just for fun.
TV Tuesdays
Choose one night a week—or even once a month—to sit down together and watch something as a family. It could be a movie, a documentary, a live concert, or your favorite weekly show.
Bonus idea: Rotate who gets to pick what you watch each time. It keeps things fresh and lets everyone feel like they have a voice in the tradition.
Photo Fridays
Every Friday, everyone shares their favorite photo they’ve taken that week. It could be a silly selfie, a scenic view, or a snapshot of something meaningful.
Bonus idea: Save the photos and make a digital album, or print out and frame a collage of your favorites from the year.
Music Magic
Explore new music together! Let each person introduce a favorite song or artist and explain why they love it. You might discover a new favorite or start a shared playlist.
Bonus idea: Add in a dance party!
YouTube Discovery
Each family member brings 1-2 funny or interesting videos to share (within reason!). It’s an easy, low-effort way to connect and get everyone laughing.
Bonus idea: Make each person act out the video first before watching it.