The new year is an opportunity to start fresh and build healthy habits together as a family. One fun way to do this is sitting down together to talk about what to focus on this year – like reading, bedtime routines or eating healthier. When your child participates in choosing goals, they feel proud and are more excited to follow through and make them part of their daily routine.
Try Reading Every Night
Reading helps your child grow their vocabulary, thinking skills and imagination. But it does more than that. When you read with your child, it builds a stronger bond between you and your child and they begin to associate books with comfort, love and happiness. This can help them enjoy reading more and want to read on their own as they get older.
Make Sleep a Priority
Getting enough sleep is very important for children because their bodies and brains are still growing. Newborns require 14-17 hours throughout the day, while school-age children need 9-12 hours each night. A good night’s sleep helps children stay focused, handle their feelings, fight off sickness and develop properly. Set a regular bedtime based on when they need to wake up. Create a calming bedtime routine like taking a warm bath, reading a story and turning off screens at least 30 minutes before bed to make falling asleep easier.
Talk About Healthy Eating
Have a conversation with your child about the kinds of food that helps them grow strong and stay healthy. Explain that foods like fruits, vegetables, protein and dairy help their brains and bodies work better. Make a fun goal to try a new healthy recipe each week and plan meals together. Teaching your child about good food choices now helps them make smart decisions in the future. Setting goals as a family will teach your child the value of responsibility, effort and teamwork. Keep the goals simple, fun and realistic. Most of all, celebrate progress no matter how small!
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