People have been making New Year’s resolutions for thousands of years. It started with the Babylonians, who made promises to their gods at the start of each year that they would return borrowed objects and pay their debts.The Romans began each year by making promises to the god Janus, for whom the month of January is named.

Now a day, most of us try to come up with a few juicy resolutions: I will eat healthier; I will go to the gym; I will start my novel.

And by January 31, many of us have either not started on our resolutions or have given up on them.

How can you make this year different?

Experts agree that in order to achieve a goal two factors must be present. First, write down the goal and keep it in a visible location. And second, tell someone. All the research agrees that by telling someone you are going to do something, you are more likely to accomplish it.

Now that you know the secret to setting and attaining goals, it’s time to bring your kids in on the fun. Late December/early January is the perfect time for the entire family to start a tradition of making New Year’s resolutions. Here’s how you begin:

Gather the family and discuss some possible family resolutions. Some examples are: play board games two times a month; unplug the phones for one hour each night; volunteer one time per month.

Once the family has agreed on one or two family resolutions, it is time to select individual resolutions. Parents ought to act as role models to demonstrate how to choose a resolution. Think about what worked this past year and what areas you would like to improve upon. Literally talk out loud so your child can hear you brainstorm as you reflect on this past year.

Ask your child to come up with two or three resolutions. You can suggest resolutions, but do not dictate. Some suggestions for kids are: keep bedroom clean; read more; help clear the table; walk the dog. Encourage your child to make SMART resolutions: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Time specific. Rather than reading more, your child will read for 15 minutes 4 days a week.

Once your child has selected his resolutions, have her write them down and place them in a prominent location such as on the refrigerator in the kitchen. Each month revisit the resolutions to check on progress. Celebrate successes! If your child is having trouble reaching a resolution, brainstorm with your child on how to better achieve success. Help your child break the goal down into smaller, more manageable steps.

Wrapping it Up

New Year’s is a wonderful time to start over. Engage your child in the ritual of making New Year’s resolutions. Though it may not be a stated resolution, your family may end up bonding during this time of renewal and wind up closer while individually and collectively improving your lives.

David Karch (Engage the Brain Learning Specialist)