Are New Year's Resolutions Good for Kids?

Each new year brings with it new hopes and aspirations, and usually resolutions for self-improvement. But can New Year's resolutions be good for our kids too? Sure! Inviting your children to make New Year's resolutions can help them see the value in setting, keeping, and ultimately achieving goals. And if you do it together as a family, you can keep each other accountable for sticking to the goals, and celebrate achievements together as they come. If you need ideas on what types of resolutions are age-appropriate for your children, check out a few of these suggestions from American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP):   Preschool aged children - clean up toys and put them where they belong; brush teeth twice daily and wash hands regularly; be nice to peers.   Children ages 5-12 - drink water and milk instead of fruit juice or soda; increase physical activity through something you like to do like jump rope or play sports; always wear a helmet when riding a bike.   Children ages 13+ - eat more fruits and vegetables; engage in some community involvement activities; agree not to text while driving and always wear a seat belt when in a car.   These are just some of the great suggestions from AAP - for the full list, visit http://www.aap.org/en-us/about-the-aap/aap-press-room/news-features-and-safety-tips/Pages/Healthy-New-Year-Resolutions-for-Kids.aspx. Show your children encouragement when they make their resolutions and when you see them working toward accomplishing a goal. You may also consider making family goals and a rewards system for meeting a goal - e.g. everyone in the family manages to limit their time on their cell phones/social media to 1 hour/day for 1 week = family pizza night! The point is to have fun, be creative, and work as a team. The best way to keep a resolution is to have a support group in place. What better place to find support than from your own family.   From all of us at Club Z!, may 2015 bring you and your family great joy, laughter, and togetherness!