Posted on 12/21/2015
Just as we discussed the importance of being intentional about holiday traditions, we also want to be purposeful in how we embark on a new year. Sure, any day offers a fresh start, but at the start of a new year, there’s an especially poignant opportunity to both reflect on the previous year and look toward the year ahead. As parents, that opportunity gives us a chance to guide our kids in the important life skills of self-reflection, celebration, and goal-setting.
Self-Reflection
Have you ever noticed that kids love talking about themselves and what they like? New Year’s Eve offers a perfect opportunity to not only hear about your child’s likes and dislikes but to record them. Making a New Year’s interview an annual tradition can be a great way to track your child’s development as well as to laugh and reflect together over years past. Here are some ideas other parents have tried:
• Video tape the interviews and watch them every New Year’s Eve
• Put them in a binder
• Print a cute questionnaire for a time capsule
Don’t feel like this activity has to remain superficial. If your family or one of your children has had a particularly hard year, you can reflect on that, as well. What lessons have you learned — about yourself, others, or life in general? How have you changed, as a result? How do you think you might handle a similar situation differently in the future? What could we, as a family, do to support each other better through those kinds of hard times?
As you reflect on the past year, perhaps there are some conflicts that were never resolved. Before the dawn of a new year is a great time to ask forgiveness or to let go of a grudge and promote a peaceful beginning to the new year.
Celebration
Yes, I really think this is a life skill that we need to teach our kids. What can we “toast” to, as we look back on the past year? Whether they’re drinking sparkling juice, milk, or something a little more exotic like this cotton candy “mocktail”, you can take turns with each person in your family toasting to someone who made their year extra special. (If you want a springboard for such discussions, check out this one.) As you look back at the good stuff, you’ll be better able to leave the not-so-good stuff behind and look forward to the new year.
Goal-Setting
Planning for the new year and forming resolutions can be a daunting task. Start by discussing “SMART” goals. “SMART” is an acronym for five characteristics of the kinds of goals you want to try to set:
• Specific
• Measurable
• Attainable
• Realistic
• Timely
You can help your child choose some goals in various categories (like these or these and even start to create an action plan with this printable goal-setting flip book.
From the Bedroom Source blog:
- Helping Your Kids Prepare for STEM Careers, Part 1
- Are Dust Mites in Your Child’s Mattress?
- Clutter-Busting Solutions for Kids
The Bedroom Source
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