Well the New Year has rolled in and some of us have gotten back into our routines. Every New Year, we make resolutions, and for the next month or so, we try hard to keep them. As the year rolls on, we get lax and the resolutions are forgotten.
This year I decided to help kids with healthy New Year resolutions, that they could keep. What's the point of helping them with resolutions, if we don't help them in keep them. Just nagging them about their resolutions is pointless. It leaves the child feeling negative about trying to bring change via resolutions and it will only make them them give up easily on their resolutions. So, I decided to help them keep it. Here are a few suggestions:
1. Writing out lists
Encourage kids to write out their resolution. Pick a place they see regularly at home, and put it up there. If the kids are too young to read, get them to draw or put up a picture which will remind them. E.g.: If the resolution is to eat more vegetables, get them to draw something which will encourage them to eat more vegetables. Perhaps smiling vegetables or a funny cartoon.
2. Specific reminders
If a kid is trying to change something specific associated with a habit he or she is trying to break, encourage them to put up a reminder to do so at that specific place. E.g. If a child is trying to spend less time on say dragon games, they could put up a reminder near the device/computer. This helps in reduced reminders from the parent and helps the child build good habits.
3. Making things easy
Many of the resolutions most of us make are for better habits. Children are encouraged to do the same. E.g. They might put down 'Clearing toys after play'. In such instances grownups can help by encouraging kids to put the toys into a large carton or plastic tub, if the kids are unhappy about putting things back into a cupboard. This way it's easy enough for the kids to stick to their resolution and the toys get cleared.
4. Non-nagging reminders
As grownups it's our job to help kids in their growing up. This includes what I call a timely reminder service. We do need to remind kids to stick to their resolutions, but we must avoid becoming nags (for the greater good!).
If at any juncture, we feel a resolution is too hard for the child to keep or that the child is simply too young, encourage the child to scratch it off the list. Perhaps they could add it as a resolution in the future when they are ready for it.
This year I decided to help kids with healthy New Year resolutions, that they could keep. What's the point of helping them with resolutions, if we don't help them in keep them. Just nagging them about their resolutions is pointless. It leaves the child feeling negative about trying to bring change via resolutions and it will only make them them give up easily on their resolutions. So, I decided to help them keep it. Here are a few suggestions:
1. Writing out lists
Encourage kids to write out their resolution. Pick a place they see regularly at home, and put it up there. If the kids are too young to read, get them to draw or put up a picture which will remind them. E.g.: If the resolution is to eat more vegetables, get them to draw something which will encourage them to eat more vegetables. Perhaps smiling vegetables or a funny cartoon.
2. Specific reminders
If a kid is trying to change something specific associated with a habit he or she is trying to break, encourage them to put up a reminder to do so at that specific place. E.g. If a child is trying to spend less time on say dragon games, they could put up a reminder near the device/computer. This helps in reduced reminders from the parent and helps the child build good habits.
3. Making things easy
LEGOs by davitydave
Many of the resolutions most of us make are for better habits. Children are encouraged to do the same. E.g. They might put down 'Clearing toys after play'. In such instances grownups can help by encouraging kids to put the toys into a large carton or plastic tub, if the kids are unhappy about putting things back into a cupboard. This way it's easy enough for the kids to stick to their resolution and the toys get cleared.
4. Non-nagging reminders
As grownups it's our job to help kids in their growing up. This includes what I call a timely reminder service. We do need to remind kids to stick to their resolutions, but we must avoid becoming nags (for the greater good!).
If at any juncture, we feel a resolution is too hard for the child to keep or that the child is simply too young, encourage the child to scratch it off the list. Perhaps they could add it as a resolution in the future when they are ready for it.
