Smart and FUN New Year's Resolutions For Kids
The start of a new year is the perfect opportunity to set fresh goals, especially for kids! It’s a time of new beginnings, where excitement for what’s ahead motivates children to dream big and work toward meaningful milestones. Goal setting is a powerful tool that helps children learn perseverance, self-confidence and commitment—traits that will benefit them for life. Read on to discover our best tips for helping your child turn New Year’s goals into reality!
Helping Children Make New Year’s Resolutions
When guiding kids in setting goals, keep the objectives positive and encouraging. Avoid framing goals negatively. For example, instead of focusing on “cutting out sweets,” try “making healthier snack choices.” As role models, parents and caregivers can help establish positive goal-setting habits. Dr. Kristen Eastman, PsyD, a pediatric clinical psychologist at Cleveland Children’s Hospital, notes that explaining what a resolution is and sharing examples from your own experience can be helpful. Inviting children to brainstorm their own ideas can be fun and empowering.
Creating a Plan for Success
To start, help your child pick two or three goals from different areas of their life. Before finalizing a goal, it’s important to make sure that it’s both realistic and “SMART” (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound). Avoid making large goals and instead focus on creating smaller, more attainable objectives. This will help prevent your child from burning out and make it easier for them to achieve their goals.
Once your child has a goal in mind, have them write it down and break it into smaller, actionable steps with soft deadlines. Together, make a timeline where you can track their progress. Follow up with them regularly to help keep them accountable, and be sure to celebrate the milestones they hit along the way! This will help motivate them to reach the finish line.
To get you started, here are some simple ideas for goals you can set with your kiddos this year:
- Learning how to tie their shoes
- Helping with household chores
- Reading a certain number of books
- Practicing kindness with siblings and friends
Setting Swim Goals With Your Children
Setting goals in their activities—like swim lessons—can inspire and motivate children to put forth their best effort. That’s why we encourage families to set meaningful swim goals for the year: to help foster growth and confidence in the water. With each small victory, we’re here to celebrate alongside you and your child as they grow stronger, safer and more confident with every swim.
Wondering what types of resolutions work for young swimmers? Explore our ideas below!
1. Practice Swimming
Practice makes progress, whether it’s playing an instrument, solving math problems or working on your swimming techniques. Use the Aqua-Tots app or ask your swim instructor to identify a skill your child can practice at home or work on during class. Encourage your child to set small swimming goals, whether it’s refining their Chicken-Star-Rocket, perfecting their back float, or moving up a level. Every step toward water safety is a big win!
2. Stay Positive
Encourage a positive outlook in your home by swapping out “I can’t” for “I’ll try.” This can apply to anything, from trying new foods to embracing new exercises in the pool. This resolution helps kids build resilience and keep an open mind, allowing them to broaden their horizons and achieve more. During swim class, set a goal for tear-free lessons or, if it’s a particularly tough day, aim to leave class on a happy note.
3. Be Kind
Kindness can be an empowering goal! Help children brainstorm ways to spread kindness, whether it’s in school, in their community, at home or even in their swim class at Aqua-Tots. Challenge them to cheer on classmates, give a high five, or say something kind to a swim buddy. Acts of kindness, big or small, can bring about a huge sense of fulfillment and purpose.
4. Perfect Attendance
Setting a goal for perfect attendance, whether it’s at school, art club or swim lessons, helps children learn the value of commitment, consistency and practice. Regular attendance reinforces water safety skills and builds discipline that’s beneficial both in and out of the pool. It also teaches children the importance of being on time, a lesson they will continue to use throughout their life!
We know it’s easier to achieve a goal when there are simple ways to keep track. Download and print our Swim Lesson Goal Tracker and hang it up at home so your child can check off their achievements as they go!
At Aqua-Tots, we are proud to cheer on our superstar swimmers as they work toward achieving their goals. Watching children grow in confidence and achieve milestones, both big and small, inspires us every day. We’re here to support your child and family every step of the way, and we look forward to seeing you at their next swim lesson! Here’s to another twelve months of big dreams, high fives and fresh accomplishments!