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Many folks will make New Year’s resolutions to do everything from losing weight to saving money, all worthwhile goals. As a parent, you have an awesome responsibility. You are helping to rear the next generation of world leaders, artists, scientists, small business owners and health professionals. In light of the importance of your role as parent, consider making a few parenting resolutions.
1. Stop Yelling
Whether you are yelling in anger or yelling to be heard over the kids’ din, it’s not good for your blood pressure or for their development. Take a few seconds to compose yourself before you respond in anger. And come up with a gesture or clap to get everyone’s attention, then talk in a calm voice.
2. Find Family Time
Carve out at least a couple hours a week, more if your children are younger, when the whole family sits down with no electronic devices. Have dinner together and then play a board game, make a craft, have a tickle fight, go for a walk, do whatever you like, just as long as you are all together and paying attention to one another.
3. Get Active
You’ve heard it on the news, you’ve read about it in this magazine, obesity is on the rise and it is threatening our children’s lives. Find activities for you and your little ones to get moving. Go for a walk every evening after dinner, dance to the radio or a CD for 15 minutes twice a day or plug in the Wii and play a couple games of tennis.
4. Set a Better Example
Kids watch how you interact with your spouse, the bagger at the grocery store and the waitress at the restaurant. Resolve to treat others as well as you can, and you’ll be teaching your child good manners and other social skills in the process.
5. Have Fun
For a young family, life can easily get bogged down in responsibility and we forget to stop and smell the roses. Whether you are shopping, folding clothes, bathing your kids or making supper, try to find a way to incorporate silliness or fun. Sing silly songs, make up rhymes about the task at hand or play “opposite day.” More fun equals less cranky kids, which can’t help but make for a better year!
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