Family Rituals

Family rituals are uniquely meaningful family interactions that transmit the family's beliefs and values and provide the family with a sense of stability, identity, and a means for socialization. Early interventionists may incorporate an exploration of family ritual behavior as part of a family assessment of resources, priorities, and concerns. By integrating and drawing upon existing theory and research, this article describes four dimensions of family rituals believed to be most relevant to early intervention practice. Strategies for assessing family rituals and designing interventions that support and facilitate ritual enactment are provided.