How to Make New Year’s Resolutions for Your Kids in 2023

2023 is here! 

You and your kids are probably excited about what the future holds, right? 

Well, setting goals is an essential thing for both children and adults. For kids, it is critical to their growth because it teaches them the importance of organizing their time and resources. Plus, it lays the foundation that shows them why making commitments and keeping their promises makes them better people. 

The beginning of the year is all about goals and resolutions. With the right approach, these resolutions can begin to teach children how to choose the direction they would like their lives to take. When you take a wider and more constructive approach to resolutions with your kids, they will learn to channel their time, energy, and resources into achieving their goals. This is a skill that will play an important role in their success for the rest of their lives. 

Now that you know just how important it is to help your child make new years resolutions, here is how to do it this year. 

  1. Make it about the family

Turn making new years resolutions into a family affair by making it one of your traditions. This is the best way to teach your children the value of these resolutions. So sit down with your kiddos and reflect on the past year. Talk about your accomplishments, what worked, what didn’t, and your goals as individuals and as a family. What are some of the things you would like to continue doing and things you’d like to change? 

Let each family member take turns sharing something they are proud of and something they would like to improve. Parents should go first to show the little ones how it is done. If your kids are old enough to write, have them record their goals, achievements, and resolutions as well. Remember to limit the number of things they can list to make them more realistic and achievable. You can then review your resolutions together at a later date. 

  1. Make it age-appropriate

Children of different ages will have different resolutions. You can guide your kids to make the right ones by gently encouraging them in the right direction. For example, if you are concerned about your child’s diet, encourage healthier eating habits from the whole family. If your child has a hard time keeping her room clean, help them commit to 10 minutes a day of cleanup work. As your child grows, you can let her have a more active role in setting her own goals and resolutions. 

Here is a look at recommended resolution choices for kids by age: 

  • Preschoolers: focus on cleaning up toys, washing hands, brushing teeth, being kind to pets, and so on. If they already do these things regularly, you can start helping them set even higher goals. 
  • Older kids: encourage them to work on their listening and being helpful at home. Being more respectful and more honest is also important. Think about what your child needs to work on and help them figure out these areas that need improvement. 
  • Adolescents: by this age, your child needs to start taking more responsibility for her actions. Taking care of her body, dealing with frustrations, anger, or stress healthily, and talking through conflict all fall into this category. Encourage your child to also resist alcohol and drugs and help others in her community. 
  1. Be the role model

Whether you know it or not, your child models her behavior after you. Reflect on how you wish to act or behave this year and figure out whether or not this is the behavior you would like to model for your child. This is the perfect opportunity to take up activities that promote better physical and mental health. The changes you make in your life are a great way to show your child the value of setting goals and sticking to them, and the results of that effort afterward. 

  1. Maintain a positive approach to resolutions

Setting goals in the new year is a celebration. It is about happiness and should be presented to kids as such. When you are introducing the subject of resolutions to your kids, do it optimistically. This will plant the idea in your child’s mind that with each passing day, she has an opportunity to reinvent herself. Watch your tone and avoid using a punishing, threatening, or preachy tone to avoid turning your kids off.

A great way to do this is to talk to your kids about all their accomplishments in the previous year. Then have them try to come up with things that they can do now that they did not do last year. Instead of pointing to shortcomings, ask them what some of the great things that they want to do this year are. What do they want to improve? What would make their lives better or happier? 

  1. Make suggestions without dictating them

Should you make resolutions for your child? No, you shouldn’t. You want to teach your child how to develop her own goals and ambitions. 

However, while it is your child that should come up with her own resolutions, this does not mean that you should not help guide her. You can do this by suggesting general categories that she needs to work on, helping her clarify her goals, making sure the goals she chooses are age-appropriate, and so on. But this all starts by first listening to her and understanding what she has in mind for herself in the first place. 

Final Thoughts

As adults, we know the thrill that comes with accomplishing a goal that you have worked hard towards. You can help your kids discover this thrill and watch them enjoy their accomplishments by helping them make new years resolutions this year. Be sure to go over the list of resolutions each month, acknowledging your child’s successes and reinforcing resolutions that need more attention as you do. Hopefully, with the tips and tricks outlined here, you’ll be able to make transformative resolutions with your kids in 2023. Happy New Year!