New Year's Resolutions

A new year means new possibilities. For you and your family, this could mean taking the opportunity to form good habits or begin learning new skills. In today’s blog, we’ll discuss a few different resolutions you can work towards with your children, regardless of their age!

It’s important to set realistic goals with your kids and give them something to work toward. Providing your kids with fun and innovative ways to track their goals, such as a sticker chart, can provide motivation when targeting these goals. This can allow an avenue where kids can earn rewards for each goal reached,such as time for them to do more highly preferred activities, depending on their age.

Collaborate on goals with your kids

By sitting down with your children and including them in the process of choosing some goals to work on, your children will feel more involved and will help increase their willingness to work on achieving those goals.

Reward Positive Behavior Change

A great way to encourage your child to work towards meeting their goals is to use motivation by pairing a preferred item or activity with the completion of a goal. If your 4-year-old puts their toys away every day, they can choose a treat to eat after dinner" or "they can choose an extra book to read at bedtime. If your 10-year-old has met their reading goals for the month, maybe you can take them to get that new game they’ve been talking about. Seeing that their behavior is being rewarded for meeting their goals will make your child much more likely to work hard to meet other goals in the future.

Below are some healthy and attainable ideas for goals you can suggest to your children, broken down by age group:

Ages 3-4

• I will put my toys away every day before dinner.
• I will wash my hands with soap and water after using the bathroom and before eating.
• I will try to eat new foods, including more vegetables.
• I will brush my teeth twice a day, and let my parents help if I need it.
• I will always hold someone’s hand when I cross the street.
• I will use nice words when I am talking to my friends.
• I will talk to my parents or another trusted adult if I’m scared or need help.

Ages 5-12

• I will drink more water every day and limit how many soft drinks I have.
• I will put my dishes in the sink after I am done eating.
• I will always wear my seatbelt in the car, and use a booster seat until I’m tall enough to use a regular seatbelt.
• I will try to get in at least 30 minutes of physical activity 3-4 days each week. This can include playing tag with friends, playing at the park, or playing a sport.
• I will always wear sunscreen when I go outside in the summer to protect my skin.
• I will always wear a helmet when riding a bike, scooter or skateboard.
• I will always try to be friendly to kids by talking with them and letting them join what I am doing.
• If I notice my friends are being picked on, or think they may be making unsafe choices, I will find an adult I trust and ask for help.
• I will try to talk with my parents or a trusted adult when I have a problem or feel stressed.

Teenagers and young adults

• I will try to limit my time on electronics like TV, tablets, and video games to no more than 1-2 hours per day.
• I will try to read for at least 30 minutes every day.
• I will try to eat healthy foods, including more fruits and vegetables, every day. I will save junk food like candy and ice cream only for special occasions.
• I will help my parents take care of our home by vacuuming, washing the dishes, or taking out the trash when they ask.
• I will try to get 8 hours of sleep each night.
• I will work on learning and using healthy coping skills for when I start to feel stressed or upset.
• I will talk to my parents or a trusted adult when I am faced with a difficult decision to help figure out the best choice.
• If I notice my friends are being picked on, or think they may be making unsafe choices, I will find an adult I trust and ask for help.

Thank you for reading! We hope you found this post enjoyable and informative. If you are currently receiving services with Golden State, and you would like to discuss options that you feel may be good to focus on, please reach out to us so we can work together to create a plan tailored to your child’s strengths and needs.