Some of us celebrate with fireworks and others watch the ball drop in Times Square. Many toast with champagne or share a kiss at the stroke of midnight. In some places, people light candles while elsewhere they ring in the coming year with bells. There are special foods: pancakes in France, grapes in Spain and anything round in the Philippines to signify coins (wealth). Ushering in the New Year includes a variety of festivities and traditions around the world. But few are as universal as the New Year resolution.
The tradition of making New Year resolutions serves a higher purpose. Primarily, at the start of each year, we celebrate new beginnings; it’s an opportunity to start fresh. Often, our resolutions are self-improvement goals that emanate from some critical thinking about our lives. Typically we consider our strengths and our weaknesses. We think about what’s missing, and we strive to make changes in an area that is important to us. As we set achievable resolutions for the New Year, it is a great time to help kids do the same. Setting New Year resolutions for kids can be a valuable life skills lesson.
SETTING GOALS FOR THE COMING YEAR
Many of us have good intentions to make changes or improve some aspect of our lives throughout the year, but the beginning of each new year gives us an encouraging nudge that can provide real motivation, especially when those around us are similarly engaged. The process of setting our annual resolutions requires us to engage in self-reflection, and we can prompt kids to do the same. Getting an early start helps us ensure that we have time to consider our choices carefully. To avoid emphasizing the feeling that they are lacking or failing in some way, a resolution should be phrased as a thoughtful, positive change, something that we or our kids would like to add to our lives. One effective way to structure a New Year resolution is as a SMART goal.
The coming new year is a great opportunity to teach kids about SMART goals. Goal-setting is a life skill, and we tend to be most successful when they are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound.
- Specific — There can be a tendency to be overly broad when selecting a goal. “Studying harder” or “eating healthier” could be challenging to implement because there is a potential for ambiguity. Replacing broadly-worded resolutions with specifics, like “eating five servings of fruit and vegetables each day” or “limiting red meat to once per week,” can help specify more clearly what you will do.
- Measurable — Making a resolution quantifiable makes it easier to track. “I will eat two vegetables for lunch and two vegetables for dinner every day” can easily be counted and checked off. Setting up a simple chart to record progress by placing a check mark or sticker can help you and your kids track progress toward success. Use seasonal stickers to mark your successes, and kids will be anxious to make it happen.
- Achievable — Though resolutions by definition are intended to ensure success, kids should select a resolution they can achieve with reasonable effort. Setting a great big goal might be hard at first, but setting a series of mini-goals is more achievable. Saving $100 may seem quite daunting, but putting aside $2 each week from allowance adds up over time.
- Relevant — The chances of success are greater when individuals select resolutions of importance to themselves, rather than what someone else thinks they should do. Make sure that kids—and you—select something personally relevant.
- Time-bound — Setting a time frame within which to achieve the goal is the final criteria to increase the likelihood of its success. Once again, allocate enough time to allow new habits to become routine. You can re-evaluate at any time and make adjustments, if necessary.
THE THEMES OF OUR NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS
A sampling of adults surveyed regarding planned resolutions for 2018 revealed that when undertaking a goal for the coming year, there were several common themes. Kids’ resolutions are likely to share a similar spread.
- The vast majority involved healthy lifestyle changes, with resolutions equally split between increasing physical activity (37%) and improving diet (37%). It seems that regardless of where we are in our healthy living journey, there is always room for improvement. Digital media in the form of unique apps, fitness trackers, exercise videos and recipe blogs can help to support lifestyle changes.
- Saving money (37%) was tied with exercise and diet. This, too, is a popular resolution for kids who aspire to save for a particular purchase or to help fund a special cause. With the right motivation, this could be a great opportunity to learn this important life skill.
- Taking better care of oneself (24%) was the next most popular resolution. This could include reducing stress, getting more rest, practicing mindfulness or celebrating gratitude. These resolutions support mind and body.
- Reading more was the goal of 18% of respondents. Developing a daily reading habit is beneficial for both kids and adults. To improve the likelihood of success, start with a super engaging must-read or reread an old favorite.
- The start of a new year is a built-in opportunity to take a risk or try something new. The additional, remaining goals focused on adding something new to one’s life: a new friend (15%), a new skill (15%), a new job (14%) or a new hobby (13%).
- A significant number of survey respondents (32%) indicated that they did not intend to make New Year resolutions. Since our resolutions are very personal, it makes sense that not everyone finds them beneficial or helpful. And some are discouraged by failures with resolutions past.
SUPPORTING EACH OTHER FOR GREATER SUCCESS
Reminding and encouraging each other is a great way to help parents and kids make successful New Year resolutions. This could mean collaborating to set goals that bring you together or providing reciprocal support for each other’s individual resolutions. A shared goal, like reading at bedtime or going for a bike ride after dinner, can benefit parents and kids individually while providing a bonding activity they can enjoy together. Likewise, encouraging each other with their respective resolutions can provide the motivation and support needed to stick with it. If resolution-setting is part of your New Year tradition, help kids to set SMART goals then enjoy working together to usher in the new possibilities for both of you.
Check out the summer camp opportunities in your area, where kids can find new friends, learn new skills and discover new hobbies: San Francisco Bay Area, Southern California, and Chicagoland. Sign up for our mailing list to keep up-to-date on our camp happenings, innovation resources and registration information for our upcoming 2019 camp season.
