As the new year approaches, many of us take the opportunity to reflect on the past year and set new goals for the year to come. This is also a great time to teach kids about the concept of setting goals and making New Year’s resolutions. Setting goals is an important life skill that can help kids develop self-discipline, self-motivation, and a sense of purpose.
When teaching kids about New Year's resolutions, it's important to keep a few things in mind:
- Make it age-appropriate: Keep the goals simple and easy to understand for the child’s age.
- Encourage them to think about what they want to accomplish: Instead of imposing goals on them, help them reflect on what they want to achieve and work towards.
- Keep it positive: Help them frame their resolutions in a positive way rather than focusing on what they want to stop doing or change
Here are some examples of New Year's resolutions that kids of different ages might make:
- For young children (ages 3-6): “I want to brush my teeth by myself every morning and night” or “I want to learn how to tie my shoes”
- For older children (ages 7-12): “I want to read more books this year” or “I want to practice playing the piano for 15 minutes every day”
- For teenagers: “I want to volunteer at least once a month” or “I want to save money towards a specific item or experience they want”
It’s also important to remind kids that it’s okay if they slip up or stumble on their way to achieving their goals. New Year’s resolutions are a chance to start fresh, but it’s not the end of the world if they don’t stick to them perfectly. Encourage them to pick themselves back up, reflect on what they learned, and try again.
To help kids achieve their goals, you can provide support and guidance along the way. This can include:
- Helping them to break their goals down into small, manageable steps.
- Encouraging them to set reminders or create a schedule to help them stay on track.
- Helping them to reflect on their progress and celebrate their accomplishments along the way.
- Letting them take the lead, giving them the freedom to make decisions but still being there to guide them.
Overall, teaching kids about New Year’s resolutions can be a fun and rewarding experience. It provides an opportunity for kids to reflect on what they want to achieve and learn important life skills such as goal setting, self-discipline, and self-motivation. It’s also a great way to help kids develop a sense of purpose and look forward to the future with optimism.
Follow up with the Goal Setting printable or the monthly Mood Tracker!
Printable Activity
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