The Magic of Holiday Stories: Why Children Need Them

At Growing With Stories LLC, we believe that childhood is shaped by the tales children hear, the memories they create, and the traditions they feel part of. This is especially true during the holiday season, when the world feels just a little brighter and more wondrous.

Holiday stories, whether shared at the dinner table, read from beloved books, or enjoyed during seasonal films, give children what they crave most: imagination, connection, and a sense of belonging.

Children Experience the Holidays With All Their Senses

Children are deeply in tune with the many sub modalities of the holiday season. They notice the smells of familiar foods, the gentle glow of lights, the colors that transform a room, the textures of decorations they help place, and the tastes that return only once a year. Whatever an adult feels, a child feels with even more intensity. For them, every detail holds enchantment. Everything is magic.

Holiday Traditions Shape a Child’s Inner World

Children flourish when traditions surround them. Lighting candles, decorating a tree, preparing a special dish, or reading the same holiday tale each year becomes more than a ritual. These moments become part of who they are.

When these traditions are unique to your family, they grow into cherished memories. In the years ahead, children often look back and think:

“In our family, we always did this.”

These simple acts become the threads that hold their childhood together.

Stories Connect Families Across Generations

Sharing holiday narratives offers a powerful chance for connection. Parents can talk about their own childhood celebrations, describing the customs they remember, the warmth of their family gatherings, and the small traditions that made the season special.

Children can ask about cultural, religious, or ancestral practices. These conversations invite them into a larger family narrative that helps them understand their roots and feel part of something enduring.

Encourage Children to Create Their Own Holiday Stories

One of the most meaningful gifts you can offer a child is the invitation to imagine and create. During the holiday season, children can:

• Invent their own family traditions

• Create original holiday tales

• Write or tell narratives based on the season

• Share their creations with siblings or friends

This nurtures creativity, emotional expression, and a sense of ownership over the holiday magic.

Tales Bring Communities Together

Holiday tales are not limited to a single home. They can connect neighbors, classmates, and friends. Children can ask others about their holiday customs and discover how different families celebrate.

This helps children learn that:

• Every family has its own unique traditions

• Culture and heritage shape celebrations

• Listening to others builds understanding and empathy

When children exchange tales, they strengthen friendships and discover the joy of both shared and different experiences.

A Season for Wonder, Learning, and Understanding

The holiday season offers families the perfect chance to slow down and talk. To listen. To laugh. To remember. Ask your children:

• What do you love most about the holiday season

• What new tradition would you like to create this year

• What is your favorite holiday memory so far

Invite them to ask you the same questions. These conversations deepen connection and help children feel seen and valued.

Keeping the Magic Alive

At Growing With Stories LLC, our mission is to help families rediscover the power of imagination and the meaningful tales that shape childhood. This holiday season, we encourage you to embrace traditions both old and new, familiar and freshly invented, and to celebrate the simple magic of narratives shared with the people you love.

Because the greatest gift you can give a child is not found in a box or under a tree.

It is a tale. A memory. A tradition filled with wonder. Something they will carry with them and someday pass along to the next generation.