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This blog post provides ideas and strategies for teaching kids the importance of goal-setting and helping them set and achieve their own New Year’s resolutions.
As an adult, setting resolutions can be a good way to reflect on your goals for the year. But it’s also easy to forget that as children grow up, they need their own sets of goals too.
It’s never too early to start thinking about what you want out of life, whether that’s finishing all the books on your reading list or learning how to play an instrument like the violin. In this article, we’ll discuss how you can help your child set new year resolutions and achieve them in the new year.
How To Explain Resolutions to Children
The most important thing to remember when explaining resolutions to young children is to keep it simple. Explain that a resolution is a goal you set for yourself, such as cleaning your room or reading more books.
You can also explain that these goals are important because they help you be your best and accomplish things you would not otherwise be able to do. This will help them understand why setting resolutions is so important in life!
Why Resolutions Are Important For Kids
It’s important for kids to learn how to set goals, make commitments and follow through with them. This is a life skill that they can apply in school, sports and other areas of their lives.
- Setting goals is an important way for children to learn responsibility. When you tell your child what you’d like them to do—like cleaning their room or taking out the trash—it gives them something concrete and specific that will help them feel secure about what’s expected of them (and when).
- It also teaches your child how valuable it is for him or her to complete tasks on time and as promised. This will help him or her develop patience and self-control over time as well as gain confidence in his or her ability to commit himself/herself fully towards achieving specific objectives without giving up halfway through the journey (or giving up altogether).
- Finally, you’ll want your child’s resolutions this year include helping others because these types of resolutions encourage empathy while also putting those around us first instead of ourselves—which are both traits we should all aspire towards having!
How To Encourage Kids To Stick To Their Resolutions
You can encourage your kids to stick with their resolutions by:
- Setting realistic goals. If a child sets a goal that is too difficult or too easy, they are more likely to give up on it. For example, if you child wants to eat healthy but doesn’t know what healthy food looks like yet, they may not get very far with their resolution. However, if they set a goal of eating one piece of fruit per day or trying one new vegetable each week, then they will have better success at sticking with their resolution throughout the year.
- Making sure the goals are age-appropriate for your children’s maturity level and understanding of how things work in the world (for example, setting a goal such as “I want my mommy and daddy back together again” might not be something that’s feasible at this point in time).
- Giving them a reward when they succeed! This could be something simple like allowing them extra TV time after dinner or giving them an extra hour during nap time if their homework is done before bedtime; whatever works best for your family should go into effect here! If possible try not to use money as an incentive because this could lead down an unhealthy path where kids see money as all there really is in life rather than family relationships being first priority which leads us right back around again…but anyways – just keep these things mind while also reminding yourself that sometimes life happens outside our control so don’t expect perfection every single day 🙂
New Year Resolution Ideas For Kids
- Picking up after yourself
- Not making fun of other kids
- Finding a new hobby
- Behave well in class
- Stay focused in the classroom
- Have a favourite stuffed animal
- Take part in sports
- Keep up with chores
- Don’t watch as much tv
- Go to bed on time
- Learning how to read
- Learning their times tables
- Learning how to add and subtract simple numbers
- Waking up on time
- Be a better friend
- Eat healthier
- Keep your room clean
- Save money
- Get organized
- Make new friends
- Learn to play an instrument
- Read 24 books this year
- Be kind to the elderly
- Be more active
- Eat better
- Spend time with family
- Take breaks at school
- Practice an instrument
- Spend more time outdoors
Remember To Keep A Positive Vibe Around Resolutions
You may be thinking, “My kid is going to be so excited about this! I can’t wait.” But as you get ready to break the news, remember that it’s important to keep a positive vibe around resolutions. If your child is feeling down about not getting what he or she wanted for Christmas and then you tell them about their New Year’s resolution without acknowledging their disappointment first, it could take away from the excitement of setting goals together.
Instead of saying “We’re not going to get any more presents,” try something along these lines: “Daddy/Mommy couldn’t find any toys so we decided it would be fun for everyone if every child got one present this year. Now let’s think about what YOU want for next Christmas.”
If there are other kids in the family who also missed out on some gifts from Santa Claus, use them as examples when talking with your own children. You might say something like: “I know that Sally didn’t get many toys either. She told her mommy that she doesn’t care because she has so many things at home already.”
Try To Keep The List Of Resolutions Small
You don’t want to overwhelm your child with too many resolutions. If they have too many on their list and can’t achieve them all, they may be discouraged and give up. You also don’t want to ask for too much of your child; if you’re asking them to do something that is way beyond their skill level or ability, it will just make things more difficult for everyone involved.
As with any new resolution, try to keep it simple! Don’t expect miracles in a short time frame; instead of setting a five-year plan for how quickly your child can learn how the piano works, set smaller goals like learning how each key sounds or learning how to play two songs. Set up rewards along the way (like letting them choose what movie we’ll watch after dinner) so that they know when they’ve met one of their goals as well!
Remember To Follow Up With Kids About Resolutions They Set
When you set goals with your child, don’t forget to check back in with them to see how they’re progressing. If they haven’t achieved their goal yet, help them come up with a new plan of action. Remind them of the benefits of achieving their goal and remind them why it’s important for them to achieve it now rather than later.
If you notice that your child is struggling or needs more support, ask if there is anything specific that would help them achieve their goal faster.
Consider Setting Resolutions As A Family
It can be a great idea to set goals as a family. You can learn more about each other, build teamwork, and stay motivated by supporting each other on the way to success. In addition, you will likely have more fun setting goals as a family because there are so many different things that you can do together.
If you choose to set resolutions with your kids or children in mind this year, it’s important that you consider the following factors:
- Your child’s age and maturity level
- The number of kids that need to be involved in setting these goals
- The ages and maturity levels of those kids involved
Make Sure To Set Resolutions Yearly And Make It A Tradition
Once you have your resolutions set, it’s time to make sure that the kids know about them. In order for this to be successful, it is important that parents start having these conversations with their children long before the new year begins. When creating a list of goals and objectives for their children, parents should consider making the list fun while still keeping in mind its importance.
For example: Instead of “I want to put more effort into schoolwork this year,” try “Next year at this time I will write down 10 things I learned in school today.” This way when January 1st rolls around and they do indeed write down those 10 things they learned, they will feel accomplished and proud of themselves!
Additionally: Remember that if your child has difficulty remembering his or her resolution(s), try writing them down at home so he/she can remind himself/herself later on!
Conclusion
We hope we’ve helped you to set the right tone for your kids and their New Year resolutions. It’s important to remember that they are not just adults in miniature – they have different needs, skills and interests than adults do.
So don’t worry if it takes them a while before they get into it! We also want to encourage you to keep things positive around this time of year – remember that setting New Year Resolutions doesn’t mean that if your kid fails at one thing then everything else is ruined.
They will still grow up happy and healthy, so let them enjoy this holiday season without stressing too much over how much weight they need lose or how many books they should read before bedtime (though those are great goals too). Happy New Year!
