Parents may have a secret weapon when it comes to making and keeping New Year’s resolutions: their kids. After all, most children exhibit near-perfect recall when it works in their favor (“On Monday when we were driving in the car you said that we could go to Target on Saturday to look at Lego”), above-average determination (“There is no way on earth I’m eating that broccoli”) and true grit (“I don’t care if it’s a blizzard outside — I’m wearing shorts to school”).
Put that stick-to-itiveness to good work with family New Year’s resolutions. The built-in accountability from family members should up the odds of success, and a common goal can foster unity. Here are eight ideas for New Year’s resolutions to make — and hopefully not break — as a family:
Create a new family tradition.
Use the New Year as the motivation to add a new tradition to the family folklore. Many people’s most cherished childhood memories centered around a beloved tradition, whether it’s breakfast in bed on a birthday, an annual camping trip or a regular Friday movie night.