· By S. S. Coulter
Teaching Kids the Power of New Year’s Resolutions
It’s the beginning of a new year, which means the start of resolutions for many of us. Simply put, a resolution is a firm decision to do or not do something. Embarking on a new year with fresh goals is exciting, and it’s a fantastic opportunity to teach our kids about goal-setting, self-discipline, and personal growth.
Introducing children to New Year’s resolutions can help them develop lifelong skills. Let’s look at tips to helping your kids make effective resolutions as well as strategies to stick to them.
5 Tips for Making New Year’s Resolutions with Your Kids
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Reflect on the past year. This can be a very fun and enlightening talk to have with your kids. Ask your kids what went well and what could have been better. Use their answers as a starting point to discuss how they can make the upcoming year even better than the last. I like these questions from KidsKonnect:
- What do you want to happen in the next year?
- What was missing in this year?
- How can we make things better?
- What do you want to change?
- What do you want to improve or learn in the next year?
- What do you need to achieve that and how can I help you?
What a neat conversation to have with your kids, and based on the answers, you can begin to help them make resolutions.
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Make age-appropriate resolutions. We want our kids to learn to work toward goals until they achieve them because this practice will really set them up for success in life! Work with your kids to make age-appropriate, achievable goals. For instance, your son wanting to be the fastest in his whole school may be unrealistic when he's in second grade, but improving his own time and strength by exercising 30 minutes every day is a healthy, achievable objective...and he very well may be the fastest kid in a few years!
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Set a reasonable number of resolutions. Having 10 resolutions may seem respectable but too many can lead to lack of direction, lack of consistency, stress, and burn out. Have your kids write down all the things they are excited to accomplish, see if any can be combined, talk through them, and then pick the 3 to 5 that excite them the most. We want them to become life-long goal setters and achievers so prevent burn out with a reasonable number.
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Lead by example. Did you set your own resolutions? Share some with your kids so they can get an idea of what goals you're working toward and your action steps to accomplish them.
- Come up with resolutions you can do as a family. With your children’s input, consider setting goals you can work on together as a family. Whether it’s eating healthier meals, spending more time outdoors, or volunteering, shared resolutions build connection and mutual accountability.
3 Ways to Help Kids Stick to Their Resolutions
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Make resolutions accessible. Encourage your kids to creatively display their resolutions on a poster board and hang it somewhere visible. For certain ones, they can track their progress directly on the board, making it both a motivator and a visual reminder.
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Be a role model. This refers back to point 4 above. If your kids see you sticking to your goals and the joy you have in achieving them, they will be more apt to keep working on theirs.
- Check in, adjust, and celebrate. Schedule regular check-ins to see how things are going. Perhaps in the beginning your kids will want some assistance from you to hold them accountable until the resolution becomes a healthy habit. This can also be a time to reflect on strategies your children picked to accomplish their goals that may need fine-tuning. Finally, you can use this time to discuss any feelings or challenges your kids are experiencing and celebrate their efforts, even if the goal hasn’t been fully achieved yet.
New Year’s resolutions offer kids a chance to learn goal-setting, develop self-discipline, and boost their self-confidence. By helping your kids create, maintain, and accomplish their resolutions, you’re setting them up for a lifetime of success – and you might find it inspires you to reach your own goals too! What an incredible gift to give as you embark on a new year together.
For more on helping your kids set New Year's resolutions:
New Year’s Resolutions For Kids: How To Teach Your Kids About Setting New Year’s Resolutions by Circle DNA
10 New Year’s Resolutions for Kids by KidsKonnect
100 New Year’s Resolutions for Kids in 2025 (Printable) by KCCNJ