How to help your children set and achieve meaningful goals in the New Year

As the New Year approaches, many of us begin to reflect on the past year and set goals for the year ahead. While resolutions are often associated with adults, encouraging young children to set their own resolutions can be a meaningful and enjoyable experience.

In the UAE, where families often emphasise holistic development, New Year’s resolutions can help children build new and positive habits, develop responsibility, and enjoy a sense of accomplishment.

The Lifelong Benefits of Resolutions for Children

Children, especially in their early years, are at a stage where they absorb new experiences and ideas like sponges. They are naturally curious and eager to learn, making them perfectly suited for setting and achieving goals. Setting New Year’s resolutions allows them to:

• Develop Positive Habits: Resolutions are an opportunity for children to build positive habits that will serve them throughout their lives. Simple goals such as brushing their teeth twice daily, spending less time on screens, or practicing kindness can lay the foundation for a healthy and productive lifestyle.
• Boost Confidence: Achieving even small resolutions gives children a sense of accomplishment. This boosts their self-esteem and motivates them to tackle bigger challenges in the future.
• Improve Time Management: When children resolve to manage their time better, like setting aside a few minutes daily for reading or practicing a skill, they learn the value of discipline and structure.
• Promote Empathy and Generosity: Goals focused on helping others such as sharing toys with siblings or participating in a community drive teach children the importance of empathy and giving back.
• Strengthen Family Bonds: Making resolutions as a family can be a bonding activity. Parents can use this time to discuss family values and goals, creating a supportive environment for children to thrive.

How To Help Children Set Goals?

Habits are the building blocks of character. Resolutions offer children the chance to form small, manageable routines that eventually become second nature. Here’s how parents can guide their children toward developing new habits:

• Start Small: Choose simple, specific resolutions that are achievable for their age. For instance, instead of “be more active,” a resolution like “play outside for 30 minutes every day” is clearer and more actionable.
• Lead by Example: Children often mimic their parents. If parents set their own resolutions and work toward them, children are likely to follow the same.
• Use Visual Aids: Create colourful charts or lists where children can track their progress. For example, a star chart can encourage toddlers and younger children to meet their goals with excitement.
• Celebrate Progress: Celebrate milestones to keep them motivated. For instance, if a child resolves to eat more fruits and vegetables, reward their consistency with a fun family outing.
• Stay Positive: Emphasise the journey rather than perfection. Teach children that it’s okay to falter, as long as they keep trying. This helps them develop resilience.

Inculcating Emirati Values into Resolutions

For families in the UAE, resolutions can be tailored to the local environment and culture. Encourage children to set goals that include learning more about Emirati traditions, volunteering for a community initiative, or participating in eco-friendly activities like recycling. Resolutions can also revolve around learning and development such as improving Arabic language skills or engaging in extracurricular activities.

In Conclusion

New Year’s resolutions for young children are more than just a fun tradition. They’re a steppingstone toward personal growth and lifelong learning. As families in the UAE ring in the New Year, this tradition can serve as a wonderful opportunity to nurture values, strengthen bonds, and celebrate the joy of growing together. After all, every small step taken today shapes leaders of tomorrow.

At Dibber International Preschools, children are supported and nurtured to become the best versions of themselves. By helping children set and achieve meaningful goals, parents and educators, together, can encourage responsibility, empathy, and a joy for learning.

Dibber is the largest Scandinavian education group with 600+ schools and nurseries in 9 countries. Headquartered in Norway, Dibber has over 2 decades of experience in the early education space. Their growth in the MENA+ region has been significant, and they hope to touch the lives of many more children in the years to come.

To know more, visit one of their units in the UAE!

Call: 800-DIBBER

Email: familyrelations@dibber.com

Image Credit: Dibber International Preschools