The last week of school before winter break, our kindergartner announced his “New Year’s resolution.” He said, “my New Year’s resolution is to be a construction worker.” Clearly, he did not understand what the word resolution meant.

Although I’m not a big fan of making resolutions or “plans” that are truly unattainable, I think we can teach our kids healthy habits. From being grateful to improving routines, here are ten great resolutions your kids can make to help them thrive in the year ahead. Your child can pick a few they like or they only need to pick one.

1. Say your prayers.

Pick a time of day to pray. Before a meal, before getting out of bed or at bedtime. Pray every day.

2. Make your bed.

Make your bed first thing in the morning. This should happen every single morning before leaving your room for the morning. This is a great way to set the tone for a great day.

3. Eat three healthy meals a day.

Eating healthy is really important. Make sure to have three meals a day starting with breakfast. It’s also good to have two healthy snacks in between meals. It’s important not to eat after 7pm.

4. Move your body.

Make sure to move your body daily. You can do anything and you don’t have to go outside. Do ten jumping jacks. Take a walk with your parent. Dance to your favorite song. Getting some movement in every day is good for your physical and mental health.

5. Limit screen time.

This is a great resolution. It’s also easy to monitor yourself. I would recommend no screen time on school nights for younger children. And limit to less than an hour on a non-school night. For older kids, set a reasonable bedtime schedule and don’t look at your devices for one hour before bedtime. This will help you sleep better and rest your mind from all of the device stimulation.

6. Brush your teeth.

This one is super important. Teeth health will be a part of you for your whole life. We want to keep our teeth as healthy as possible. Make sure to brush your teeth at least two times a day- morning and evening. Flossing regularly is also great for gum health. Brush those teeth every day!

7. Play every day.

Do something fun and simple. You can play a game or build something with blocks. You can draw or play hangman with your parent or sibling. Spend at least 20 minutes of your day playing. Make sure it’s real life play and not on a device.

8. Read your Bible.

Start with an age appropriate bible translation. Our family service at our church uses the NIRV (New International Reader’s Version) in the readings of the Bible lessons. I like this translation for younger children. It’s perfect for 3-8 year olds. I like the NRSV (New Revised Standard Version) for older teens and college students and NIV (New International Version) for older tweens, pre-teens and teens. Depending on the age of your child, you can set an appropriate length of scripture to read each day or each week. Some ideas we have tried: 1. starting with the New Testament and reading a chapter a day or a chapter a week. 2. Reading a verse a day. 3. Begin with THE GOSPEL books (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) and read through them at your own pace. Reading the Bible is an important part of teaching your child to lean on God and not relying on the devices of this world.

9. Be thankful.

Start or end your day with stating one thing you are thankful for. This is a great resolution for the whole family. You could start by having everyone at the dinner table take a turn saying one thing they are thankful for from the day. Being grateful is good for the soul.

10. Make your family a priority.

With a big family and a big age gap, we are intentional about family time. I still cook for my family 3 times a week and we eat together. Being in the kitchen with my family is a highlight of my life. For kids, spend time with your parents and siblings. Read a book together. Ask your mom how you can help her. Ask your dad to work with you on a project. My husband and youngest son love to tell stories to each other and my husband teaches little Jimmie how to draw. God and Family are the most important parts of your life.

Do you have any additional resolutions that would be helpful for children? Any additional thoughts on the above? We would love to hear your thoughts and ideas. HAPPY NEW YEAR! 🎆