Cal State Northridge professors say family traditions like these may be even more important this year as Americans deal with the recent terrorist attacks and military actions in Afghanistan.

"I think that children of all ages, from early childhood to adolescence and even adult children, need to have that continuity in times of disruption and crisis," said Alyce Blackmon, chair of Northridge's Family Environmental Sciences Department and a child development specialist.

"Family traditions and rituals send a signal that things are returning to some semblance of calmness and happiness. They are a reminder that you can laugh again, and that's not a bad thing."

Blackmon said family traditions are associated with joy and comfort, "things we all need."

For young children, holiday traditions are a symbol of continuity and security," said Carrie Saetermoe, a CSUN psychology professor.

"They are routines that young children look forward to that lets them know that everything is going to be all right," Saetermoe said.

The same is true for older children, Saetermoe and Blackmon said.

"Especially for teenagers," Blackmon said. "People have this stereotype that adolescents today are very jaded. They aren't jaded. They're really just scared."

Blackmon said adolescents are idealistic and the terrorist attacks disturbed their sense of fairness and stability in the world.

"They feel guilty, probably more guilty than any other group, about things returning to normal and laughing and having a good time," Blackmon said. "Family traditions and rituals reassure them that it's OK to have fun again."

Saetermoe suggested that for older children, families might want to modify some of their traditions to reflect the gravity of the current condition.

"We can't pretend that nothing has happened, but maybe we can keep things in perspective and use the holidays to underscore the values of our traditions and use this as an opportunity to look outside yourself and at what really matters," Saetermoe said.

Child development professor Barbara K. Polland, author of the popular parenting book No Directions on the Package: Questions and Answers for Parents with Children from Birth to Age 12,suggested that this year is a good opportunity for families to adopt traditions if they don't have any.

"It's a great opportunity to bring the family together and do something that reminds them of what we're all about," she said.

She suggested something simple, like everyone getting together to help make the holiday meal. Or, before Christmas and Hanukkah, giving children an empty box and asking them to put toys in it that they have outgrown and are in good condition to be given to others who may not get toys this holiday season.

"Holiday traditions aren't so much about getting and doing things as they are about reminding ourselves how much we mean to each other," Polland said.

California State University, Northridge has more than 30,000 full- and part-time students and offers 63 bachelor's and 51 master's degrees. Founded in 1958, it is the only four-year university in the San Fernando Valley and the third largest in the 23-campus CSU system. The Western Association of Schools and Colleges recently said CSUN "stands as a model to other public urban institutions of higher education."