So, you near the finish line of another year after the holiday season and have some great memories to take along with you.
Maybe you applied some new ideas like 7 Kid-friendly ways to Celebrate Halloween as a Family, Teaching Kids to be Thankful: 8 Thanksgiving Strategies, and 10 New Holiday Traditions for Kids and Families.
Do you need some ideas for New Year’s resolutions for your kids?
What, resolutions for children? You may be having a hard time coming up with some for yourself, let alone your child.
Never fear. When it comes to your children, you can keep it simple and attainable.
Whatever you and your child choose, just make sure it is something that it is age-appropriate.
Here are 5 simple suggestions to help get you started when thinking about helping your child plan out their resolutions for the upcoming year.
Several New Year’s Resolutions Suggestions for Kids
Get Outdoors
Spend some time with your little ones on New Year’s Day and go hiking! Hiking is one of the best activities for children ages 3-10 years old. Climbing and exploring outside is a good use of a child’s energy. These activities also improve important skills such as balance & coordination. Hiking is one of my family’s favorite activities.
Read for Fun
Encourage your child to read for fun, even if it is just for a little bit of time everyday. Reading provides many benefits for kids. Books teach kids about history, different world views, and also build their vocabulary skills. Also, this way to pass time is just flat-out fun. What could be better than getting lost in someone else’s story?
Drink more water
Water is the best beverage for kids. It calorie free and offers many health benefits. Additionally, there are many options these days in the form of flavored water. These no calorie beverages are good substitutes for kids who are used to sugary drinks, like juice and soda. Plus, your child’s pediatrician is happy when you claim water as your child’s beverage of choice.
Replace One Snack Food with Fruit
Kids love snacks. But, many kid friendly snacks contain unhealthy ingredients. Encourage your child to eat more nutrient dense foods. A great way to accomplish this is to pick one snack per day to swap out for apple slices or their favorite fruit instead. This way, your child enjoys a nutritious snack that also appeals to their love of sweets.
Try a new activity
Resolution time provides the perfect opportunity to get your child involved in new activities. Often, they can become passionate about these new opportunities. Accordingly, cheer your kids on to try a new sport or a fun art class. Maybe, playing a musical instrument is something that would be intriguing.
New activities around the house could include increasing their chore responsibilities. This not only helps parents remove things from their plate, but gives your child a new sense of accomplishment. Is your child old enough to help with the laundry? Or, be in charge of feeding the dog? Can they help with meal prep or making their own lunch?
Adding both fun and useful activities into your child’s routine can help the whole family functional well together and be happier in the year to come.
These are just a few suggestions to help if you and your children have a hard time coming up with some resolutions on their own.
Regardless of what you decide, your children may find the time you spend with them to think up some resolutions as time well spent.
Happy New Year!
Dr. Andrea Wadley is a pediatrician located in Dallas/Fort Worth serving families with pediatrician house calls. As a wife and mother, her posts are written with parents in mind, whether you need help with a picky eater, need to find places where kids eat free or want to know more about topics like breastfeeding and lactation.
© 127 Pediatrics, December 2021
