How to Make New Year's Resolutions for Kids

New Year serves as a new chapter for many people in which they start to visualize the whole year and plan it by taking notes and bulleting the dos and donts in the year ahead. On the other hand, juveniles ages 7-12 are at the ideal stage where they try to make their New Year's resolutions.

Christine Carter, PhD, author of "Raising Happiness: 10 Simple Steps for More Joyful Kids and Happier Parents" and an educator for a virtual class on helping kids develop happiness habits, says kids with such age are still young enough. Meaning their practices and habits still need to be firm.

Dr Carter says that parents can still help their children implement their resolution by guiding them throughout despite kids looking old enough. Parents can also help young ones to make their own resolution while also considering the consequences of it, whether good or bad.

Jennifer Kolari, a child therapist and author of Connected Parenting, stated that kids at such an age only start to be mindful and slowly understand others' perspectives.

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Making resolutions with your children is fun

Creating resolutions with kids can be both fun and exciting as this serves as a time for change and growth as well as an opportunity for family bonding.

Kolari added that kids of such age are only starting to open up to broader goals, whether short- or long-term, particularly on becoming their best selves.

On the other hand, Robin Goodman, PhD, a clinical psychologist and art therapist who has written books about stress and children, believes parents should first be role models when making a resolution with kids.

Dr Goodman added that practising what you preach is essential: "You have to walk the walk and talk the talk to be most effective."

For instance, when preparing the table, kids would look at their parents while placing placemats on the table and putting plates on it. As kids look at their parents, they will eventually learn how to do such tasks. In short, kids would be able to do specific functions if their parents would allow their children to observe and look at them as their role models, per Parents.

Keeping a positive approach to resolutions

Meg Cox, author of "The Book of New Family Traditions: How to Create Great Rituals for Holidays and Everyday," says that parents should remind their kids that resolutions are all about happiness and parents must present such optimistically.

When creating a resolution or helping your child make one, remember that children would always listen to your tone, which only means that if your style doesn't seem to help them, they wouldn't be encouraged to resolve themselves.

Dr Carter says to begin by reviewing your child's positive accomplishments last year. Rather than turning like a historian that digs their past, point to the bright spot where your child is stellar and shines the most promising.

As a parent, help your child determine the possible things that need to be improved and what will make their life better and happier.

Lanre Omojokun Falusi, MD, FAAP, is a pediatrician in Washington, DC, who told Healthy Children always to discuss matters regarding your child with a trusted pediatrician about essential habits that can help ensure a healthy, happy, and safe new year.

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