You may think that making New Year’s Resolutions begin and end with adults, but that is not the case. Making New Year’s Resolutions with your children can emphasize the meaning of commitment, working together to reach attainable goals, and having fun.
Plenty of resolutions are to be made for all ages so the family can get in on the fun! Below is a list of 10 different New Year’s resolutions that the entire family can make for different age groups, and even some for just parents.
And don’t forget to check out our list of 12 unique ways to celebrate New Year’s Eve with your children.
Give Out One Act Of Kindness Per Day
This is a resolution for all ages! This is an excellent opportunity for parents to explain what an act of kindness means and looks like and can then be applied to a resolution for a child. Maybe that means holding the door open for a teacher or classmate or cleaning up the table after dinner.
An act of kindness each day of the year creates an appreciation for your child as they do something small for others.
Spending Less Time Playing Video Games, Electronics, Social Media, Etc.
Maybe it’s just 2-3 minutes less a day, but having your older child commit to spending a few minutes less on their electronics and participating with the family in physical conversations or playing with friends or siblings might catch on faster than you think.
This allows your child not to become so attached to their device and also allows you as a parent to interact with your child more and keep a finger on the pulse of how they are doing when their face is not behind a screen.
Family Game Night
One resolution that can be popular with any age group of kids is having a family game night once a week! There are so many options for family games, some that require you to purchase pieces or some that you can play with mundane objects around your home (i.e., spoons and a deck of cards).
Having a family game night allows for a guaranteed face-to-face connection with every family member once a week. That’s 52 nights a year that you get to sit with your family and laugh while being a tad bit competitive!
Saying ‘Thank You’ Throughout A Child’s Day
It is especially great for little ones; teaching your children to say ‘Thank You’ throughout their day as a resolution reinforces the thankfulness of the season. One great thing about this resolution is that every young kid can participate, even if they can’t speak! You can teach your child the sign for ‘Thank You’ and have them practice it when given a bottle, different foods, or toys.
This accessible resolution may catch on throughout the entire family, which is a win for everyone! Being thankful for having help or being given something and showing thanks is never a bad habit to pick up.
Working On Vocabulary Words For 5 Extra Minutes
For your school-aged children, encouraging them to make their New Year’s Resolution to practice their vocabulary words for a couple more minutes each night allows for more bonding time with you and helps with their confidence in school.
Your child’s teacher will be happy to know that you are encouraging your child to spend just a few more minutes each night reviewing their work, and you’ll be happy spending that time with your child to accomplish something together.
Set A Reading Goal
This one can be modified for all ages! Like the popular trend with adults, you can set a yearly reading goal for your child for their New Year’s resolution. Maybe it’s reading a chapter book every other month or reading two short picture books at night instead of one. However, having a reading goal reinforces why strengthening vocabulary and a love for reading can go beyond just a habit.
Plus, you and your child can work through your reading goals together!
Give Your Child Praise Each Day
Parents, we haven’t forgotten about you! What’s a simple New Year’s Resolution you could adopt that would positively impact your children? Praising them each day when they do something amazing!
Maybe that’s a high five for making their bed, doing a chore, or just telling them how great of a friend/sibling they are. Either way, giving your child an extra dose of praise is probably one of the most manageable resolutions you can fulfill this year!
Having Your Child Call A Family Member Each Week
This resolution may take a bit more planning and work. Still, the smile on faces will be worth the extra scheduling! Teaching your child the importance of having extended family in their life is an important lesson. A New Year resolution of calling an extended family member once a week is a perfect way to reinforce those vital relationships.
Maybe it’s a phone call to grandparents, aunts, uncles, or cousins once a week for 5-10 minutes. Either way, encouraging your child to make space for their extended family can make a huge difference in many lives.
Filling Out A Chore Chart
You may already have a chore chart for your children, but if you don’t, the new year is a great time to create one! Again, teaching your children to be accountable for something is a life-long lesson.
Sticking with a chore chart for the entire year is definitely one of the more involved New Year resolutions for children on this list, but with your help and encouragement as parents, they will excel in staying on task and filling up their chart each week!
Saying One Good Thing Each Day
This last resolution is one that the entire family can participate in! It’s no secret that every day can’t be a “good” day, but there is always one piece of “good” in it. For this new year, you can challenge everyone in your family to say one good thing that happened to them daily.
You could ask this question during family dinner, as your children are getting ready for bed, or even as you pick them up from activities. Ensure you don’t forget to add your piece of “good” as well!
You can read why making New Year’s Resolutions with your children is positive and about other resolutions from Johns Hopkins Medicine.
