Making New Year’s resolutions with your children

For many of us, the new year signals a time to assess our lives and make changes we don’t like. There is always room for improvement in the coming year, whether it is our diet, exercise routine, or procrastination. Our children can learn a lot about self-discipline and the importance of setting goals when making New Year’s resolutions. Here are some suggestions for how you can help your children benefit from setting goals and jotting down aspirations for 2023.

Make it a family affair

Making New Year’s resolutions a family tradition is the best way to teach your children the value of them. Sit down with your children today and reflect on the previous year, discussing your accomplishments and goals as individuals and as a family. You can discuss what worked and what didn’t work this year during your resolution discussion.

“Each of us is going to state a few things that we want to continue doing and things that we’d like to change that would make us feel better about ourselves and how our family works,” says Dr Benjamin Siegel, professor of paediatrics and psychiatry at Boston University School of Medicine.

“Each member of the family takes turns sharing something they are proud of and something they want to improve. It may be beneficial for parents to go first in order to provide a role model for their children. If your child is old enough to write, he or she should record their achievements and goals, and you can assist your younger child by doing the same.”

Family resolutions could include going on a monthly hike, playing board games twice a month, or committing to more volunteer activities. Limit the number to make it more manageable and meaningful.

“It’s impossible to make a list of 100 things,” Siegel says. “It should be based on things that can be done without causing financial difficulties.”

Dr Kathleen Clarke-Pearson, clinical assistant professor of paediatrics at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine, suggests making a resolution box, in which each family member can drop in their resolutions, and then pull them out at a later date to review them.

Different ages have different resolutions

If you are concerned about your child’s diet, encourage healthier eating habits for them, as well as the entire family. If your child’s room is a mess, try to help them commit 10 minutes a day to cleaning it. As your child grows older, they can be more active in setting goals that will mean more to them when they achieve them.

Experts recommend resolutions for preschool-aged children that focus on cleaning up toys, brushing teeth, washing hands, and being kind to pets; however, parents who consider these behaviours to be part of their regular expectations may want to provide resolutions that focus on higher goals.

Preschoolers should be encouraged to work on listening and helping skills, according to Clarke-Pearson. A resolution for children under age five could be to be better behaved, be more respectful to mom and dad, or more honest. What your child needs to work on is very personal, so work with your child to come up with areas for improvement.

When your child reaches adolescence, experts recommend they take more responsibility for their actions, such as taking care of their body, dealing with stress in a healthy manner, talking through conflict, resisting drugs and alcohol, and helping others through community service.

Act as a role model

“Parents should be reflective about how they wish to be in the coming year,” Siegel says. “It’s a good opportunity to promote good mental and physical health. No matter what age your child is, they are more likely to understand the value of goal setting if you take the lead.”

The long-term benefits of resolutions

We all know the thrill of accomplishing a goal, whether it’s losing a few kilograms, quitting smoking, or working extra hours to earn a promotion. Children also enjoy that thrill of accomplishment, especially when their parents acknowledge it. As you go over the family list of resolutions each month or quarter, take time to acknowledge your child’s successes, as well as reinforcing the resolutions that need more attention.