5 Parenting New Year’s Resolutions

The new year is here which has many of us setting our resolutions. While we all have our personal goals, there may be some things you want to do as a parent to help your family and children have a better year. Here are five ideas for parenting New Year’s resolutions to get the year off to a good start!

Parenting New Year’s Resolutions

Encourage Healthy Eating Habits and Exercise

As a parent, you can help your family get on the healthy train by establishing good eating habits. Statistics show that obesity rates among children and youth in Canada have nearly tripled over the past 30 years. You can prevent your child from becoming part of this statistic by buying nutritious snacks, preparing meals with fruits and vegetables, and encouraging exercise. You can set up a schedule for a weekly family exercise activity such as a walk, bike ride, or hike. By doing so as a family, you can set an example for your children to follow and get them excited about getting out and being active.

Spend More Time as a Family

In the new year, resolve to spend more time as a family. Whether it’s having more family dinners or having a weekly game night, look for ways to spend more time together. Plan a family vacation together that everyone will enjoy and look for ways to promote family bonding and build connections that will last a lifetime.

Look for Ways to Unplug More

These days just about everyone is guilty of being addicted to their phones. Look for more ways to unplug in the new year by setting aside time that the entire family can use to unplug. Talk about your day or plans you want to make together. This will not only allow you to spend more time together but also spend less time on your devices.

Set and Stick to Bedtimes

Parents and children both need adequate sleep to function at their best. Set bedtimes for you and your kids and stick to them. This will help them to perform better at school and you to be more focused at work. While you don’t have to go to bed at the same as your kids (unless you want to) you want to set a reasonable bedtime that gives you enough shut eye.

According to the Sleep Foundation, children need anywhere between 8 and 13 hours of sleep nightly depending on their age while adults should get at least seven hours of sleep. Determine when everyone needs to wake up to set the appropriate bedtime.

Broaden Your Child’s Horizons

As a parent, you can broaden your child’s horizons by introducing them to new activities. Encourage them to try new things such as art, a new sport, or STEM classes at MakerKids. Whether it’s coding, robotics, or Minecraft, there’s something for every child at MakerKids. Kids can learn the basics and build on their skills. There are classes for beginners, intermediate-level students, and those who are advanced.

The new year is full of exciting new adventures for both parents and children. By setting new year’s resolutions for yourself and your family, you can help to make this an unforgettable year!