Happy 2019!!!!
I just published a post about creating a New Year’s Resolution for myself and for adults. This post will focus on how we can help our children create realistic New Year’s Resolutions for themselves.
This may seem like a lot of work, but trust me, we can make this fun and super simple.
If you read my previous post for adults, you already know that I am a big fan of creating one focused New Year’s Resolution with actionable steps instead of having multiple ideas that I will never think about again. Let us therefore apply the same technique to helping our children.
I highly recommend starting this with them when they are young and developing it as they get older because it keeps their mind focused on goal setting and helps build discipline to accomplish specific tasks over time.
Alright! Enough with the benefits of this idea! Let’s get down to it!
1. Ask Them!
Yes! It is important to ask your children what they feel they need to work on during this upcoming year. Do not let your ideas and agenda lead the way. We want to build strong and confident children who know themselves well enough to voice their opinions. If they make a joke of it, gently guide them back to the conversation but let them lead the discussion. Some children may need some time to think about their answers, so give them that space. Some children may need to write or draw out their ideas, so have a pencil, paper and colors ready to go.
2. Keep It Concise!
Your child may want to work on reading. That goal is lovely but too large and unmeasurable. Perhaps they can read for 15-30 minutes per day. They may want to eat healthier — ask them about 1 thing they can do to improve their eating habits, such as packing a salad with lunch.
3. Make A Note Of IT!
On a calendar that is dedicated solely to your child and their particular goal, make a note of their New Year’s Resolution in big and beautiful letters. If you need a printable calendar, please check out Your Most Colourful Life Planner. While this is meant for adults, there is a printable calendar that can easily be used for this purpose. Let them decorate the page and then post it up so that they can see it. Make sure that they can reach it (we will discuss the reason in step 4).
4. Make It Fun!
To build discipline, children need to have fun with their goals. Check in with them and watch them accomplish their goal. For every day that they work toward their New Year’s Resolution, give them a sticker to put on their calendar. Let THEM put it on the date that they accomplished it. Make sure that it is them doing it and NOT you because we want THEM to take ownership of their accomplishments.
5. Reward Them!
When they reach a certain number of days (start small and then increase the increments as we want to set them up for success), provide them with a reward that you discussed ahead of time. For example, if they read for 15 minutes for 5 days in a row without you having to remind them, they get a special desert. In a few weeks, if they manage two weeks in a row, they get another reward.
6. Check In!
Every week or so, check in with your child to see how they are feeling about their goal. They may want to increase it in time. See how they are feeling. While we are providing them with external gratification, we want to ultimately see how they feel it internally so that in time, we can move away from external to internal gratification.
7. Lead By Example!
Children look up to adults for guidance and tend to emulate what they see. If they see you creating, working on and tracking a goal alongside them, they will do the same. If you talk to them about how excited you are to accomplish your New Year’s Resolution and the reasons for this inner joy, they will start to think about how it makes them feel and will gradually form the language to be able to explain their feelings to you.
Personally, I am really excited about my New Year’s Resolution and cannot wait to discuss it with my students. We are going to be working on these steps as a class. I can hardly wait!
For an awesome resource, please see the following as it will help you and your child get started.
Thank you for your continued support and love. I wish you and your family a very Happy New Year!
Now that you have read this blog, I’d love to hear from you.
Do you and your child have a New Year’s Resolution? What is it and how are you keeping track of it?
Leave a comment below and let me know thoughts. Remember to share your ideas in as much detail as possible because your insights and motivation will be read by others and it may touch and cause a breakthrough in another person’s soul. We would love to hear how you “Create, Experience, and Teach From The Heart.”
Important: While your thoughts are greatly appreciated, links to other posts, videos, etc. that are not relevant to this topic will be removed.
Thank you so much for voicing your opinions. If you have family, friends or colleagues who would benefit from or love this message, please share this post and subscribe to this blog for more exciting information and to receive a Live Your Most Colourful Life Planner.
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Great way to incorporate goal setting for young children to be and feel successful.
Those were my sentiments, exactly. It can be incorporated into your language arts and even fine arts lessons.
Great ideas. Thanks so much.
Great article! Love the ideas! Thanks so much!
Hooray for a new year! Thank you for this. 🙂
Love these ideas!
Very unique ideas that will be great for any classroom.