3 tips for starting a tea ritual with your kids

My first cup of tea came from my Dad. He drank his tea out of a squat, brown ceramic mug — a wedding present. I don’t remember the first time I asked for a sip, but I do remember that he always shared his nightly spearmint tea with me.

Even now, thirty years later, when I stop at my Dad’s house we greet each other, and then he asks: “Can I make you a cup of tea?”

I had no idea how much our simple tea ritual would shape my relationship with my dad. 

Now, Turner and I have developed our own daily tea ritual with our children. Tea is a huge part of our lives, so our tea ritual is informal. But I savor a cup of Rooibos, Warm Hugs, Peppermint or Chai Divine with our son every single day, all year long. 

You can easily start a tea ritual with your kid(s), too. It’s a great way to break up long days, or as a special treat on a Sunday afternoon. 

Three steps to starting a tea ritual

1. Pick a time in the day that serves you and your child.
Whatever time and frequency (every day, once a week) you choose, be consistent. The more consistent you are, the more you’ll remember to schedule it into your day, and the more your child will know what to expect.

• Maybe it’s late morning, when the kids always seem to start destroying the playroom.
  Alpenglow is a naturally sweet treat with calming lavender to bring the energy down.

• Maybe it's the natural break after lunch time.
  Peppermint is a soothing after-meal tea that supports digestion.

• Maybe it’s at 3 pm, when you’re getting drowsy and can’t deal with the thought of sending another email.
  Warm Hugs has cinnamon and peppermint to re-energize you during the afternoon hump, without caffeine.

2. Make it special.

Make this time even more special by designating your tea time location (for example, at the kitchen table or on the front porch) as well as the items you use. Let your child choose his favorite mug and designate that his “tea time” mug. 

Or use a special tea infuser — our son’s favorite infuser looks like the Loch Ness Monster, and when the tea is brewing the monster’s head sticks out above the top of his mug. Making “Nessie tea” is one of his favorite parts of the ritual.  

3. Brew the tea together.
You heat the water, your kid grabs the cups. More important, though? Just be together with no other agenda. Take the time to relax and have a conversation. No phones, no email — just you, your child, and a cup of tea. 

A tea ritual could become one of your favorite times of the day and one of your child’s fondest memories.

Cheers,
Alexa