December 22, 2022 | Office of the President & Chief Research Officer

Dear Teammates,

As many of us gather to celebrate the season with family and friends and bring in a new year, I find myself reflecting upon the roles that holiday traditions and rituals play in child development, especially in the context of creating safe, secure spaces where kids can lower their defenses and experience emotional growth. We are inherently social beings, and our traditions and rituals wield the power to give meaning and depth to relationships and events and provide children with a stronger sense of self, family, and community. With mental health concerns filling the news headlines this season, we, child health researchers, can appreciate how vital these opportunities are for children and their families. 

More than half of children in the United States are exposed to at least one potentially traumatic event before their sixth birthday. In her work as a researcher, child psychologist, and mental health consultant with the Center for Childhood Resilience, Karen Gouze, Ph.D., has observed the positive effects that traditions and rituals have on children, particularly those who have experienced trauma. Karen notes that traditions and rituals imbue resilience in children who reside in an uncertain world by providing a sense of internal strength and connection to their culture or community. Most importantly, when it comes to mental health, Karen reminds us that this connection boosts a child’s sense of self-worth, which contributes to mental well-being.

The COVID-19 pandemic has served as a persistent root antagonist to children’s mental well-being, as reported by Marie Heffernan, Ph.D., Associate Director of Voices of Child Health in Chicago. The pandemic has had profound adverse effects on youth mental health, including an increased number of children and adolescents experiencing difficulty concentrating or feeling anxious or sad. Research also shows that lockdowns, social distancing, and travel restrictions during the pandemic disrupted participation in family and cultural traditions and rituals, such as holiday dinners, graduations, and funerals. Marie points to research-based evidence that traditions and rituals promote belonging and social connectedness, lower symptoms of anxiety and depression, and foster stability for children experiencing stress and transition. Without these connections, children are less able to cope with life’s stressors. She hopes that, moving forward, researchers and health providers will devise and enact treatment and prevention strategies that acknowledge the value of family and community traditions and rituals, especially during difficult situations.

I hope that our Manne Research Institute family has a festive and joyful season. As you celebrate, please join me in viewing these holidays through the eyes of the patients, families, and communities we serve, recognizing that by building happy memories, we’re also building strong and resilient children.  

With kindness and respect,

Pat