Each year we make the same types of resolutions for ourselves. Eat healthier. Exercise more. Quit smoking. But this year, we should make some resolutions as a family. It’s a great opportunity for bonding and growing together.
1. Read Every Day
It doesn’t matter if your child is a newborn or a teenager, everyone in the family should enjoy reading every day. You can read books to your baby and you can make sure your teen is reading before they start logging their tablet or television hours. Reading helps babies and children develop their vocabulary and brain power and it helps older children become better writers, which is great for those college applications.
2. Plan Fun Adventures
They don’t have to be expensive trips to far off places, but planning adventures together will be a ton of fun for the kids. Try monthly adventures, such as a trip to the library for a special event, geocaching, an early morning hike, a scavenger hunt, or a play. Your kids will love that you’ve taken the time to focus just on them.
3. Get More Exercise
Most of us could use some more exercise in our lives. And the best way to teach children to include exercise in their day-to-day lives is by leading by example. Play in the snow, go snowshoeing, or cross country skiing, take a spring hike, or join a recreation club. As long as you are finding fun ways to exercise together, it doesn’t matter what sport you choose.
4. Get Chores in Check
Are you always nagging your kids to do their chores? Maybe it’s time to reevaluate the process. What motivates your children? Younger ones will need to see how cleaning and taking care of their toys is beneficial to them. Whether that’s by losing the toys that are left out or getting a reward for cleaning up, that's up to you. Older children should be able to understand that chores are a part of being a family, and everyone must do their part.
5. Teach Financial Smarts
Kids aren’t born with an understanding of money and how it works. They must be taught how to save their money and how to spend wisely. It’s also beneficial to teach them about donating their money to worthy charities. Start with a lesson in how much your expenses cost versus how much you make. Use an example, or your own actual paychecks and bills. Teach your children that you can’t spend more than you have and set them up with their own savings account and piggy bank.
Smart changes that are doable are key to keeping New Year’s resolutions for more than a month.
How do you plan to make 2016 better?
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