If you usually start the New Year by making a list of resolutions to achieve in the next few months, you might want to consider having your children participate in this tradition this year. Besides being a great tool to teach them about setting goals and sticking to them, letting them choose an achievable resolution for the New Year can be a fun way to build up their communication and decision-making skills.
“Parents can start by explaining what a resolution is and give examples of ones they have set in past years,” says Dr Kristen Eastman, a paediatric clinical psychologist at Cleveland Children’s Hospital. “Asking your children for ideas and helping them evaluate the options together is really important.”
Here, we have narrowed down some suggestions of resolutions which children can include in their list. Do bear in mind to keep them positive (i.e. “I’m going to do this…” instead of “I’m going to STOP doing this…”) and achievable!
1. Healthy Eating
Try: “I’m going to drink two glasses of milk each day instead of juice” or “I’m going to eat a fruit after lunch and dinner”
Here’s a great example of a healthy resolution for your child to work towards – and this should be customised according to his/her needs. Dr Eastman advises parents to help their children target the area in which they need to improve on, and then discuss with them on why it is important.
So, if the goal is to eat less fast food, focus on what your child should be eating instead. If it has been agreed that more veggies should be added to his/her diet, agree on a specific number for the week. This helps to make the resolution more measurable and achievable by the time year-end comes around.
Read also: Prebiotics Vs Probiotics: What’s the Difference?
2. Being Helpful
Try: “I’m going to set the table for dinner every night” or “I’m going to clean up my room once a week”
Making a commitment to help out with chores is a great way to make your child feel needed and useful in your home. Besides teaching them about the value of helping out and responsibilities, you will also enjoy extra help around the house!
3. Staying Active
Try: “I’m going to join the swim team” or “I’m going jogging with mum and dad on weekends”
While increasing physical activity is a good resolution for your child, Dr Eastman says that simply resolving to “exercise” is a broad term and may seem unattainable. To keep things fun, it is best to be specific about what your child can do to stay active and how often he/she plans to engage with the activity each week. When you inject some fun into something as mundane as exercise, you are more likely to stick with it.
4. Be Nicer to People
Try: “I’m going to do one random act of kindness per week” or “I’m going to talk to one person I’ve never met every week”
One of the most important life values that we’d like to teach our children is to be kind and compassionate to others. Similar to #1, this resolution should also be tailored to your child and address the issues that he/she is looking to work on. For example, a child who would like to improve his/her mannerism by being nice to others would have a different resolution compared to one who would like to spread kindness and compassion to the larger community.
5. Learning Something New
Try: “I’m going to learn how to bake a cake” or “I will learn a new dance move”
Education is a life-long journey, and there are always new skills to be learnt that could benefit us in the long run. Do explain the value of discovering new things and picking up new skills, and encourage them to focus their efforts on learning during the year.
6. Cut Down on Screen Time
Try: “I’m going to read for 20 minutes before going to bed instead of watching TV or playing the iPad”
Since most children these days are glued to their devices, it is simply not enough for them to resolve to “reduce screen time”. Help them make this resolution real by quantifying how much screen time they should cut down each day, and offer suggestions on what they should be doing instead.
7. Be More Eco-Friendly
Try: “I will switch off the lights before leaving the room” or “I will help conserve water by taking shorter showers”
Similar to #6, pledging to care for the environment takes more than just merely saying so. Make this a family effort by deciding what each member can do to save energy. Each task may seem simple, but collectively they all add up to make a difference to the environment.
8. More Family Time
Try: “We are going to have breakfast together as a family every Sunday” or “We will jog together every Saturday morning”
With hectic schedules that clashes, it is getting more challenging to spend quality family time regularly. Have everyone in the family commit a certain day and time of the week that is dedicated to spending time together – and make it fun and enjoyable for all. This might be the easiest resolution for your child to keep all year long!
9. Homework Time
Try: “I will do my homework after school without being told”
Some children require constant reminding and nagging before they get started with their homework of the day. Use this resolution to teach your child about self-discipline and responsibility by dedicating a specific time each day for homework, and emphasise that they stick to it without being told. Be sure to observe how well your child is doing in keeping up with homework time, and acknowledge his/her efforts to reinforce this behaviour.
10. Getting Adequate Sleep
Try: “I will go to bed by 9pm on weekdays” or “I will keep a 10pm bedtime on weekends”
A 2014 survey conducted by NTU students revealed that 37.5% of six- to nine-year-olds show signs of sleep deprivation. This statistic brings to light the importance of sleep in children, and how we, as parents, can play a role in making this happen.
When making this resolution, state clearly the exact time when your children are expected to be in bed. Do explain to them the reason behind this – so that they will get adequate sleep and wake up well-rested and be productive for the rest of the day.
Read also: 5 Ways to Be a Happier Parent – How to Find Joy in Parenting
