Happy New Year! With the start of a new year come thoughts about New Year’s Resolutions. As you think about goals you’d like to accomplish or behaviors you’d like to implement in 2012, help your kids do the same! This is the perfect time to talk to them about what a resolution is, teach them about accountability and share in their excitement when they can check resolutions off their list or when new behaviors become habits.
Need ideas for kid-friendly (and attainable) resolutions? Here are a few recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics, broken down by age level:
Preschool
- I will clean up my toys on my own.
- I will brush my teeth twice each day.
- I will not tease dogs or other pets.
Kids 5-12 Years Old
- I will drink milk and water instead of soda.
- I will always wear my helmet when riding my bicycle.
- I will be nice to someone in my class who might be shy or new to my school.
Kids 13 and Up
- I will eat eat least one fruit and one vegetable per day.
- I will spend only 1-2 hours per day watching television or playing video games.
- I will choose one activity per month that helps my community.
I encourage you to have a family ‘New Year’s Resolutions’ meeting, where you talk about the meaning and purpose of resolutions, share your own with your kids and give them an assignment to think about what theirs could be. Meet again to talk about what they’ve decided on, then have occasional check-ins to gauge and celebrate their progress.
Any parents out there encouraging your kids to set New Year’s Resolutions? Do you have advice on how to hold your kids accountable? Post comments and thoughts below!
– Sarah
