New Years Resolutions have always seemed a bit of a fad thing to do. Every year we’ll all say how we’ll lose weight, eat less and move more, but after the first few weeks, it starts to slide and we forget that we even made any resolutions – until next year when we make the same ones again!
This got me thinking about New Years Resolutions and how we should start to learn at a young age about trying new things, and doing new things. New Years Resolutions are supposed to be about bettering ourselves, and opening ourselves up to new things – not just something we say just to have a resolution.
And so I thought I’d list 5 New Years Resolutions that my children and I will be focusing on over the next year in the hope that they will become normal life from now on…
Learn New Things
Does it have to be something be and bold – no! Just something new. A new sport that could help them in later life, keep them fit and get them outdoors maybe, even in cold weather, there’s no excuse to get outdoors as they can armour up into their boys coats, gloves and scarfs to wrap up warm. A musical instrument – Researchers studying the benefits of music have reported that playing a musical instrument on a regular basis can help bring down stress with it’s comforting routine of practising to play. You can find more information on the health benefits of music here: https://naturesoundretreat.com/the-health-benefits-of-music/
Get Unplugged
These days, we spend so much time with electronics for education and play – the boys even use iPads and computers at school. When was the last time you and your family spent a day “unplugged” without watching any TV or playing on tablets. Now I know I need to lead by example with this so the boys and I are going to discuss the one day a fortnight that we’ll all have a technology black-out so I also wont be checking any emails, or staying glued to my mobile phone constantly.
Read!
How many books do you and your kids have on your shelves that you’ve never cracked open? The boys have a huge bookshelf that is full to the brim of books that have never had a leaf turned. This year I’m going to make it our goal to read at least one book each a month and I’ll be encouraging my kids to keep a reading chart so they know which books they’ve read and can rate what they think of them.
Have More Dates
This one is not just for the parents. When is the last time you went on a date with your child. We’re all too busy focusing on doing family things that we forget to bond as a twosome. The occasional date night will help you and your children connect and it’s a great way to really get some time to talk to each other. Of course, a date night means that us parents should get an evening alone every now and then too as a couples bond is so important also. So once a month I’ll be taking one child/or husband out and we’ll pick something fun for us both to do for a couple of hours. It could be something simple such as going for a meal but it’s just our time together – just the two of us!
Always Have Fun
T told me that he wants to be a soldier when he’s older, and C wants to be a fireman – they’re both focused on wanting to protect and look after other people. But being a child isn’t about looking forward and always worrying about the future. I want to make sure that as they grow up, they have as much fun as possible along the way before adulthood hits.
Children should be children and that means that us adults protect them from the bad in the World so that they can grow up to be the good…
There's some good ideas there. It's always good to get them into a routine where they set aside time to read and/or practice something like music. This will help later on to fill those "I'm bored" horrible weather days!
I have done this as well. Definitely to read everyday together as sometimes as awful as it sounds my son says he's too tired and because I am I just accept that but we have both made an agreement to read every night. Also less electronics time too. Great ideas
Great ideas, I had never thought of resolutions for kids, something to think about
I've only made resolutions for myself. I just haven't started them yet.
These are really great ideas, we always ensure the girls spend at least half an hour reading every day and we ensure we all have a family date day at least once a month.
These are really good and inspiring ideas. Need to start planning mine
I think it's good to make a resolution to read books. Kids need to learn how to keep themselves occupied without relying on technology and books are a good way to do this.
Achievable resolutions for our children are a great idea and rewarding their achievement will keep them motivated!
Happy new year! Some really good Resolutions there, good luck.
Happy new year
One of my goals this year is to get outside more, which we will do as a family 🙂
What a great idea. I never think about the children having resoultions. Thanks for the idea
Great ideas. I've never thought about giving the kids New Years Resolutions before but it's a good idea x
Way to go ! Most of these are on our to do list – turning off gadgets is proving difficult – when the weather improves i know we will achieve this too
Thst is a really good idea to incorporate new year resolutions with the children