Ringing in the New Year usually goes one of two ways for people: you either love it or you hate it. Some families look forward to having the kids home from school and relish those extra couple of days off work. On the flip side, the holiday chaos is yet to dwindle for some families. As you prepare to take on the new year, it’s time to start thinking about everyone’s favorite (or least favorite) tradition: resolutions. 

The New Year is all about making goals, and it doesn’t have to be any different for your children. Setting goals for children is a wonderful, holistic approach to nurturing their development, and promoting skills and qualities that contribute to success in various aspects of life. However, while it’s great for your child to set goals of habit like, “I promise to clean my room every week!” or “I’ll unload the dishwasher every day!” or even “I swear this is the year I’ll start being nice to my brother,” try helping them come up with ideas that are more constructive to their personal growth.

Sit down with your kids and come up with three to five resolutions they can stick to. If you don’t know where to start, look no further than our five examples below. Feel free to customize these objectives based on the interests, preferences, and ages of the children. After all, the aim is to make the resolutions enjoyable, educational, and conducive to personal development.

1. Complete 1 Random Act of Kindness a Day
   Each day, your child can choose a small, thoughtful gesture to perform for a family member, friend, or neighbor. Whether it’s opening a door for someone, sharing a handwritten note, or even donating a toy they no longer play with, these acts of kindness will foster a sense of empathy and generosity.
2. Draw 1 Picture Every Day
   Cultivate creativity by challenging children to draw or paint a picture every day, creating a visual journal of their thoughts and experiences throughout the year. This resolution not only enhances artistic skills but also provides a unique way to express emotions.
3. Explore 1 New Thing Every Week
   Inspire a sense of curiosity by encouraging kids to document a new experience or learn about something different each week. It could be trying a new hobby, exploring a new place, or even experimenting with a new dish.
4. Read More Books
   This may seem like a simple one, but as your kids age, think of all the new reading challenges they’ll be presented with. For small children, together you could read one new book a night. If you have older kids, challenge them to read two chapters a night or one small chapter book per week. Reading can be fun if you make it fun, and encouraging children to read provides a wide range of cognitive, social, emotional, and academic benefits, contributing to their overall development and well-being.
5. Cut Back On Screen Time
   We understand–it’s 2024, and almost everyone, no matter how old or how young, has some sort of technology device that is glued to our fingertips for at least 40% of the day (real statistic here!) But think of how beneficial it could be and the bonds you could create, for both you and your family, if you could make one day of the week screen-free. That means you, too, parents (except for emergencies, of course!)

Whether you create a Tech-Free-Tuesday or No-Screens-Sunday, help your kids foster a healthy balance between technology and the real world. On these days, try to encourage kids to engage in offline activities such as outdoor play, board games, or creative projects, promoting face-to-face interactions and a break from screens.