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Wish upon a star New Year’s resolutions for you and your kids A CHILD’S RESOLUTIONS Ideas that may work for your 5- to 12-year-old in the new year: • Drink milk and water while limiting soda and fruit drinks. • Always wear sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses when outdoors. • Find a sport or activity to participate in at least three times per week. • Always wear a helmet when bicycling. • Wear a seatbelt whenever in the car. • Always be nice and friendly to other kids. • Never give out personal information, phone number, or photos while “chatting” on the computer. – Source: American Academy of Pediatrics Did you make a New Year’s resolution this year? Maybe you want to drop 20 pounds, start working out at the gym, or spend more time together as a family. Why not use this age-old tradition to help your kids learn the value of setting and meeting their own goals too? Straightforward, attainable resolutions can serve as steppingstones for the harder challenges that life will someday offer up, and they can be a great way to bring the whole family together. The key to creating a learning experience from New Year’s resolutions is guiding your kids toward goals that they can achieve, says Dr. Cheryl Hausman of the American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Psychosocial Aspects of Child and Family Health. “The important thing is to take little steps for guaranteed success,” she advises. For example, if you’re thinking about a goal of cutting down on snack foods or soda, don’t plan to cut it out completely, but rather a little bit at a time; one less soda a week or one healthier snack a day. With a manageable plan to achieve their goals, kids are more likely to enjoy the sense of satisfaction and self-worth that accompanies success. Additionally, by developing a plan, parents are helping kids focus on long-term positive aspirations. “Healthy eating is always a great goal for any family to look at, but it’s something that needs to be incorporated into your lifestyle, rather than just the first two months of the year,” says Dr. Hausman. She suggests reviewing progress on a regular basis and if things aren’t going as planned; make modifications to help keep your child on track. To increase the chances for success even more, New Year’s resolutions should be a family effort. Whether it’s eating and exercising together, or simply spending more time together, when the family goes through the process of talking and setting goals together, it creates an atmosphere for a shared relationship, explains Dr. Benjamin Siegel, professor of pediatrics at Boston University School of Medicine. Above all it’s a great tool to improve communication between family members, says Dr. Siegel. “Parents are so busy these days, multitasking takes place at home just like at work. Using the idea of a New Year’s resolution so that there are family meetings or dinners together on a regular basis shows a healthy interest and establishes a grounding to let kids know that they’re valued and loved.” In fact, Dr. Siegel recommends that if you’re helping a child develop goals or resolutions, at least one should be geared toward personal communication. Instant messaging, chat boards and other media-related activities involve kids in communication without a personal relationship. That’s not good: During the preteen years it’s important for kids to hone the skills needed to develop healthy relationships at home and with friends. If you’re still wondering what kind of New Year’s resolutions are viable for you and your kids at the same time, a good place to start is with the things that you both enjoy most. Something as simple as reading together a few nights a week, or joining a pottery class, can be fun and easy to do. Just make sure that, like your children, you’ve selected something that you can accomplish too. Who knows, a little family teamwork might be just what you need to lose those 20 pounds. Michele Piazzoni is a regular contributor. |
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