As the new year approaches, it’s the perfect time to encourage kids to set their own resolutions—simple, meaningful goals they can actually achieve! New Year’s resolutions help kids develop a sense of responsibility, build confidence, and learn the value of setting and accomplishing tasks.
Whether it’s about trying new things, forming healthy habits, or simply spreading kindness, these ideas are designed to inspire kids to dream big while keeping things manageable and fun. Let’s dive into some achievable New Year’s resolution ideas for kids that the whole family can get excited about!
Reasons Children Should Make New Year’s Resolutions
New Year’s resolutions can be great for kids, it can help them:
- Learn Goal-Setting: Teaches kids how to set and work toward achievable goals.
- Build Responsibility: Helps them take ownership of their choices and actions.
- Boost Confidence: Achieving goals makes kids feel proud and capable.
- Encourage Healthy Habits: Promotes activities like eating well or staying active.
- Inspire Positive Change: Encourages kindness and trying new things.
- Reflect on the Year: Helps kids think about what they’ve done and what they’d like to improve.
- Create a Tradition: Makes them feel part of a meaningful family activity.
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New Year’s Resolution Ideas & Activities for Kids
New Year’s resolutions are a fun way for kids to set goals and grow in exciting ways. Whether it’s learning a new skill, being kinder, or building healthy habits, these simple ideas are perfect for helping kids start the year with confidence and purpose!
Below you will find New Year’s resolution ideas for kids that can be accompanied by printable charts and pages that make sticking to resolutions fun and easy. From goal trackers to habit builders, there are a variety of tools to help kids stay motivated and on track all year long.
1 – Kindness Goals
Smile at someone new each day or say something kind to a friend or sibling. Download my kindness challenge, or make a jar of kindness that includes several different ideas of how to be kind and pull one out each day.
2 – Learning Goals
Teach kids the art of setting and achieving goals with a little guidance. Download my customizable goal sheet to make the process simple, fun, and effective!
3 – Healthy Habits
Set goals such as drinking more water, eating a fruit or vegetable every day, or getting 30 minutes of active play daily.
4 – Chores
Help with one extra household task each week, like sorting laundry or setting the table. Download my chore charts.
Related: DIY Easy and Cheap Kids Flip Chore Chart
5 – Screen Time Limits
Trade an hour of screen time for enriching activities like reading, crafting, or outdoor play! Download my screen time charts to make it easy and fun to track and balance screen use.
Related: Tips for Managing Screen Time
6 – Gratitude Practice
Write down one thing they’re thankful for every day in a simple journal. I also have several different gratitude charts and challenges in my shop.
Related: Gratitude Jar Printable Worksheets & Slips
7 – Try a New Hobby
Pick a new activity to try, such as painting, playing a musical instrument, or gardening.
8 – Write Letters or Notes
Send a letter or note to a friend or relative once a month to share thoughts or just say hello. There are some really cute notecards on Amazon.
9 – Get Creative
Draw, craft, or build something new each week, encouraging imaginative thinking and hands-on fun. You could subscribe to a craft subscription, or look at these fun craft books for kids.
10 – Work on Spirituality
Create a meaningful routine to help your kids grow closer to God. Set goals like saying prayers each night, reading scriptures, or being more intentional in their relationship with God. You can download my “Scriptures to Live By” resource, which includes 52 weekly scriptures to inspire and teach kids throughout the year.
Additionally, you can access my Prayer Challenge, Prayer Chart, Prayer Jar, or Prayer Cube—tools designed to help kids learn to pray, remember to pray, and keep God at the center of their lives. These resources make spiritual growth fun, engaging, and accessible for children.
Check out all my prayer printables here.
11 – Eco-Friendly Habits
Start a simple habit like recycling, reducing waste, or saving water to help take care of the planet. Get the kid’s guide to helping the planet.
12 – Improve Sleep Habits
Make bedtime routines fun and stick to a consistent bedtime to help improve sleep quality. You can download my routine charts here.
13 – Service
Make time for serving others in your life. Whether it’s through a simple kindness challenge or a monthly family service project, these acts of service can bring your family closer together. Download my Service Challenge here to get started.
Here are a few ideas for meaningful monthly family service projects:
- Clean up someone’s yard.
- Bake treats for neighbors or friends.
- Pass out balloons in front of Wal-Mart.
- Pick up trash at a community park.
- Visit a senior center and play games or perform for them (make sure to call ahead).
- Assemble kits for the homeless or women’s shelter.
- Volunteer at a pet shelter.
- Write letters to a penpal or military.
14 – Read More
Set a goal to read a certain number of books or pages each week. They say reading makes you smarter! 🙂 Download my reading tracker chart.
15 – Learn Something New Each Month
Pick topics like dinosaurs, outer space, or famous artists to learn about each month. Make a special trip to the library to find books about various topics.
16 – Savings Account
Kickstart their financial journey by opening a savings account and exploring the world of money together. Help them choose something exciting to save for, teaching them the importance of setting goals and watching their money grow. If you’re just starting, a piggy bank (this is the one my kids have) or a money jar are fun, hands-on ways to begin learning the value of saving!
17 – Get Outside More
Getting outside is like hitting the refresh button for your body and mind! Sunlight boosts your vitamin D, fresh air clears your head, and moving around gets your energy flowing—all while soaking in the calming magic of nature. Join the 1000 hours outside movement.
18 – Set Social Goals
To set social goals for kids, focus on encouraging positive interactions and building their confidence in relationships. Start by identifying areas where they want to improve, such as making new friends, sharing more, or resolving conflicts kindly. Set specific, achievable goals like greeting a new classmate or practicing active listening, and reinforce progress with praise and role-playing scenarios.
How to Support Kids New Year’s Resolutions
Now that you have a variety New Year’s resolution ideas for kids, you might also be wondering how to encourage your kids to stick with their goals for the year. Here are some ways to do that.
- Vision board: A creative and visual way for kids to set and focus on their goals. It’s a collage made of pictures, words, and drawings that represent the things they want to achieve, learn, or experience. By displaying it somewhere visible, it serves as a daily reminder of their aspirations and keeps them motivated throughout the year. This is fun for adults too!
- Resolution chart: Create a colorful chart where kids can track their progress with stickers or checkmarks. You can download my charts here (pick between car or unicorn themes).
- Family goal night: Plan a fun family evening to discuss and set resolutions together.
- Remember to celebrate progress: Set mini-rewards or celebrate milestones with a small treat or fun outing.
- Break goals into small steps: Help kids break down their goals into small steps so it doesn’t seem so overwhelming.
- Set goals with them: You also plan to accomplish a goal beside them. Lead by example.
- Make it part of their routine.
- Remind them that they aren’t going to be perfect at it at first. It takes time and practice.
Another way you can empower your kids to dream big and stay on track is with this beautifully designed Kids’ Planner and Goal Tracker. Packed with fun, easy-to-use tools, this planner is the perfect companion to help them set, track, and achieve their goals with confidence. Download it today and give your child the gift of organization, motivation, and success!
Which New Year’s resolution idea do you think your kids will pick?
As we welcome the new year, setting achievable New Year’s resolutions can be a fun and rewarding experience for kids. By focusing on small, age-appropriate goals, children can learn the value of commitment, personal growth, and self-improvement. Whether it’s being kinder to others, trying something new, or spending more time with family, these resolutions provide an opportunity for kids to build confidence and create positive habits.
Encourage them to choose goals that excite them and celebrate their progress along the way. With your support, this year can be a year filled with growth, joy, and memorable accomplishments for your little ones.
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