FAMILY RITUALS - IMPLICATIONS FOR EARLY INTERVENTION

Family rituals are uniquely meaningful family interactions that transm it the family's beliefs and values and provide the family with a sense of stability, identity, and a means for socialization. Early interven tionists may incorporate an exploration of family ritual behavior as p art of a family assessment of resources, priorities, and concerns. By integrating and drawing upon existing theory and research, this articl e describes four dimensions of family rituals believed to be most rele vant to early intervention practice. Strategies for assessing family r ituals and designing interventions that support and facilitate ritual enactment are provided.