Roughly 31 percent of Americans say they have planned to make a change for the better in 2026. But most New Year’s resolutions target the individual. Few of us think to set a goal for our entire family.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, January is a great time to sit down with your kids and pick one or two healthy goals that the entire family can work toward. For a family with preschoolers, it might mean trying hard to pick up the living room before bedtime (shoes, briefcases, toys). Or that you will all strive to use words like “please” and “thank you.”
“At our house, it’s about finding small moments to infuse joy,” says Ariella Slovin, MD, a pediatrician, mother of a four-year-old and 18-month-old and member of the Family ACCESS Parent Advisory Committee. “We’re going to add music to our morning routine, to help everyone wake up and get moving.”
Another idea – a nightly bedtime story.
“Studies have shown that children who get a nightly story create a foundation for literacy, improve comprehension, and broaden vocabulary,” notes Sara Gorgone, a teacher at Family ACCESS. “Research also shows links to higher verbal scores, better math achievement and stronger social-emotional skills, crucial for academic readiness.”
Ideas from other Family ACCESS parents include getting outside more as a family. Walking through the woods, getting some fresh air and talking about what you can see and hear. This works in the winter as well as the warmer times of year.
Another Family Access parent, Sarah Nalven, says her family’s New Year’s resolutions include volunteering.
“Things like stocking shelves at the food pantry, picking up trash for Earth Day, organizing donation drives at Family Access, and finding other opportunities to make the world a little bit better and easier for those who are less fortunate,” explains Sarah.
When parents model this kind of behavior with their children, they are developing habits that can last a lifetime.
