New Year, for all of us means trying to mend the things that went wrong the past year and making new resolutions that can bring about a change in various aspects of life. Though it is never too early to teach your kids about setting their New Year goals, but parents should help their kids about goal settings and resolutions and encourage and inspire them to follow them throughout the year. So now that it’s time to reflect back on the past year and resolve to do better in the areas that we have fallen short, it is also time to help your kids to make some positive resolutions.
Why are resolutions made?
We all know that resolutions are often made to be broken and usually have a low success rate, but it is also true that more than 40% people set at least one resolution every New Year and if they are determined to follow their goals, then they are usually successful.
So why do we still continue with this trend every year?
One main reason is to start from the scratch. The beginning of the year offers a clean and fresh start and the idea of anything positive make us feel better and even motivates us towards self-improvement. Another reason is that setting up a resolution often helps a person to get close to the goals and those who have fixed goals are often more successful compared to others who did not make any resolution.
Helping your child to set up new goals will empower him to change a behavior or even work on new skills. Progress charts and regular tracking throughout the year can help the kids to keep them on the track and also reflect their progress.
How parents can help kids to set up resolutions?
Whether it is exercise routine, diet or academic improvement, there is always room for improvement in the coming year. Children can gain great benefits when they make specific resolutions and follow them dedicatedly. Here is how you can help them:
A family activity: The best means to teach your kids about the importance of New Year resolution is to make it part of the family activity. So sit down and discuss your past year goals and accomplishments. Discuss with your child and let him write down their accomplishments. If your child is too young, then help him to write down. Family activities may include playing board games twice a month or going out for activities or visit the part every weekend and etc. Make a list of things that are doable without facing any economic hardship.
Different resolutions based on age:
Select the right kind of goal depending on the age of your child. If your son is having trouble with Math, then set a goal to improve his grade by sitting for a 20 minutes practice regularly. If your child is a picky eater, then help her set a goal to try at least one new fruit or vegetable a month. For preschoolers, it can be something like picking up their toys every night or even brushing their teeth twice a day. For kids of ages 5-12 it can be like opting for fruit juices instead of soda. And for teenagers, they can agree not to use their cell phones frequently and not watching violent television shows or video games.
Serve as a role model: Whatever be the age of your child, he or she will definitely understand the value of goal setting if you become their role model. Parents should always reflect to their child about how they wish to be in the coming year and this is how you can easily involve your child in your resolution. But remember to set goals that are not very difficult to attain for the child. Set your own goals and strictly follow them so that your kids can easily follow your footsteps.
Rewards for meeting the goals: We all know that how difficult it is to meet a goal that has to be followed the entire year. Children also want their accomplishments to be rewarded and they love it when their parents acknowledge it. So, while setting New Year resolutions for your kids, it is important to be a little flexible and understanding, especially when the child has accepted the challenge and is making the effort. The rewards for meeting the goals should also be decided to encourage them to stick to their resolutions throughout the year.
In a nutshell, New year goals should be attainable, measureable, specific and time bound and remember that even if your child is unable to reach her goal, working towards it is also a meaningful experience. Help her to stay on the track and keep encouraging and remain positive.