Helping Your Kids Make Healthy New Year’s Resolutions

As you’re considering the things you’d like to change for 2006, don’t forget the little ones! The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that children who make healthy New Year’s resolutions are better prepared to continue good habits throughout their lives. With a little guidance, kids can be very successful at setting and reaching their goals.

Like adults, resolutions for children need to be simple, specific and realistic. For toddlers, The Academy recommends such goals as putting away toys, brushing teeth twice a day, and washing hands before eating and after using the bathroom.

If your kids are school-aged, encourage them to make New Year’s resolutions to drink plenty of milk, limit their soda intake, and participate in sports or other energetic activities at least 3 or 4 times each week. Other possibilities include wearing sunscreen and making school work a priority each night.

Teenagers should also consider their eating habits and try to include at least one fruit and one vegetable in their meals each day. Daily television and video game time can be limited to two hours or less and possibly replaced by physical activity. At an age where many kids suffer from self-esteem issues, encourage your high-schoolers to avoid negative talk about themselves and to ask an adult for help with difficult decisions.

With a little guidance from Mom and Dad, children of any age can make and keep New Year’s resolutions. When you encourage them to set a pattern for healthy behavior at an early age, you can help your children grow up to be happy, healthy adults.