How to Make New Year’s Resolutions as a Family – Without Making it Feel Like Homework

It’s a tradition for many families to make New Year’s resolutions when the end of December draws near. As adults, you’ve probably been making resolutions for as far back as you can remember, but what’s the best way to go about it when you have kids? It’s important to think about your strategy this time of year.

Setting goals is a necessary part of life, but you don’t want to make it seem like a chore, and you certainly don’t want your kids to feel bad if they don’t accomplish their goals. In this guide, we’ll provide tips for how to make New Year’s resolutions as a family in a playful but meaningful way that your children will remember fondly.

Have a Family Conversation

When you decide to make New Year’s resolutions as a family, sit your kids down and set the stage. You don’t have to make it sound like a serious goal-setting meeting. While resolutions are like goals, they’re not always quite so serious. Getting your kids involved can be as simple as asking them, “What new thing or place do you want to see or try in 2026?”

You can also consider continuing with what your kids began this year. As an example, mention how well they did learning to swim this year. Maybe next year they want to try a backstroke or something different. Make it a fun challenge that they’ll want to take on. Since they’re already familiar with the task, it won’t be such a scary endeavor. 

Instead of putting a lot of pressure on your kids, lead the conversation with a casual tone. Talk about it over dinner or hot cocoa. 

Make It a Creative Activity

You can also turn New Year’s resolutions into a creative activity. For instance, you could break out the posterboard, markers, and stickers and make a visual representation of what the resolutions will look like. Your kids can draw what they want to achieve or make a roadmap of how they plan to accomplish their goals. Perhaps they want to do enough yard work to earn an allowance for a certain toy. Cut a picture of that toy out of a magazine and put it on the poster board. 

If their goals involve a multi-step plan, they can make a creative and colorful checklist of accomplishments. Marking off what they accomplish as they go along is a great way to build their self-esteem.

Your vision boards can also have single words that represent how your kids want to be seen in the new year. The words can be adjectives like “kind,” “helpful,” or “brave.” Then, they can personify those words as they go through the year.

Make the Goals Fun

An easy way to make New Year’s resolutions as a family and keep it lighthearted is to create fun goals based on your kids’ current interests. So, if your kids love magic, a new resolution could be to learn a new, exciting magic trick. Or if they love cooking, it could be cooking a brand-new dessert. The goal is not to make these resolutions feel like assignments. After all, this is still considered the holiday season, and you don’t want to bring the kids down during their time of joy.

If your kids have lofty plans, teach them how to break them into easier bite-sized goals. When in doubt, go with the SMART method. SMART stands for goals that are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound. Break down this method into simpler terms. Basically, it means setting goals that can be achieved without unnecessary stress. 

Make it Fun Throughout the Year

Many people make resolutions in January and forget them by February. You can reduce the chances of that common issue by making it fun to keep resolutions throughout the year. There are many ways you can do this as a family.

One idea is to play “resolutions bingo.” Create a bingo card with goals everyone in your family would like to accomplish, like trying a new vegetable, doing something kind, or adding reading before bed to the daily routine. Place each family member's bingo card on the fridge or in a community space. Then, throughout the year, every time a goal is accomplished, that person can put a mark on their bingo card. When someone wins, make it a big deal by going out for a special dinner or another fun treat.

Another way to make New Year’s resolutions as a family and ensure they stick is to create a “mystery goal” jar. On New Year’s Eve, everyone can take turns writing easy or silly goals on slips of paper before placing them in a jar. Then, put that jar in the kitchen. Every week, you can randomly choose a slip out of the jar and try to accomplish that goal. 

Finally, you can create a chart of mini goals for the kids. Every time one of those goals is accomplished, your kids can earn a sticker. Get a certain number of stickers, and your kids get a special treat like a movie night or special breakfast.

Keep Things Low-Pressure Throughout the Year

When you make New Year’s resolutions as a family, you may find that your kids take the process more seriously than you originally thought they would. That’s good, but don’t let them get so fixated on reaching goals that they become depressed if they don’t accomplish them. If, as the year goes by, it becomes clear that your kids may fall short of their resolution, reassure them that goals can change and that not meeting them doesn’t mean they are failures.

During these discussions, highlight the effort and not just the successes. After all, not all young kids set up their own goals every year, so the fact that they’re doing it all is a great accomplishment. These conversations will reinforce resilience and help your kids understand that growth takes time. They can try setting the same goals again next year and see if they’re able to get further when they try again. 

You can also have check-ins throughout the year. If your child sets a goal they’re very serious about, make a point of marking your calendar and checking in with your kids to see how they’re doing. Make these check-ins conversational and casual. Talk about them when you’re walking the dog or on the way to school. This is not an evaluation, and your kids should not feel bad if they have not reached their goal. When you do have these resolution check-ins, make sure to celebrate the small wins with a high five or a special dance.

As parents, you should also set your own goals and take the necessary steps during the year to try to complete them. Try to lead by example. If you make a resolution and don’t take any steps to accomplish it, your kids will notice and are unlikely to follow through on their own goals. 

Plan a Year-End Reflection

Every year, you can plan a year-end reflection to think about the goals you set. The next reflection meeting would be at the end of 2026. During this time, reflect on the goals you set and how close you were to accomplishing them. This is not a time to make anyone feel bad. It’s just a friendly conversation around the dinner table to celebrate the past year and any milestones.

Example New Year’s Resolutions

If your kids are struggling to come up with resolutions, don’t worry. Here’s a list of ideas that your kids can try or use as a jumping-off point for other resolutions:

• Earn good grades
• Memorize math facts
• Complete every homework assignment
• Learn a new vocabulary word every week
• Improve writing skills
• Learn words in a different language
• Watch less TV
• Eat more veggies
• Try new foods
• Drink more water
• Spend more time outdoors
• Spend less time in front of screens
• Grow a plant or a garden
• Learn to draw
• Learn to cook
• Learn to ride a bike
• Start writing their feelings in a journal
• Learn a new sport
• Start a family game night
• Try to save money
• Do more chores around the house
• Be more polite
• Give one compliment every day
• Say “thank you” more often
• Be more positive
• Keep their room clean all year round
• Learn about recycling

As you can see, there are many different resolutions your kids can try this new year. Just remember that you don’t want to cause your kids unnecessary stress. Instead, you want to show them how fun it can be to create and accomplish their goals. Make this a yearly family tradition, and your kids will grow into well-rounded adults.

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