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Quote of the Week
"Ring out the false, ring in the true."
--Alfred, Lord Tennyson
8 Ways To Help Kids Make New Year's Resolutions
The New Year is a wonderful time to assess how to make things better--for yourself, your family, and the world around you. New Year's resolutions aren't just for adults. Kids can improve their lives by stopping to remember the good things in the year about to close and consider what positive changes they can make in the new year to come.
"Resolutions also bring families closer, especially when you decide to set goals together. Families could plan to do one charitable thing a month and brainstorm about what that might be. You could pick up trash in the park or donate used clothes and toys to a shelter. "As long as you're working on it together, that's great," Kolari says.
"Another idea is for everyone to make two personal New Year's resolutions and two collective family resolutions such as, "Let's visit Grandma more often" or "Let's plan a trip to Disney World."
"Many parents suggest doing acts of kindness as part of family New Year's resolutions. "Kindness is the habit holy grail," Dr. Carter says. "It's so universally positive. When kids consciously practice being kinder, it makes them happier people and the world is a better place. As a family, my kids and I think of the people in our lives we can help and we pick one to focus on during the week. For example, we have a neighbor who's retired and loves it when the kids stop and talk for a while. You can't force kids to be kind, but you can float the idea and hope they'll be inspired."
[read more]
Reading Corner
 Title: Children Just Like Me: Celebrations!
By: Barnabas and Anabel Kindersley
Ages: 8-17
Why: "Dorling Kindersley Publishers never fail to create beautiful, engaging children's books, packed with fascinating information. In Celebrations, photographer Barnabas Kindersley teams up with writer Anabel Kindersley and UNICEF to create a fascinating journey exploring the cultural traditions of children all over the world. Harry Belefonte notes in his introduction, "Here is your opportunity to travel by book to nearly every corner of the globe ... [and] join children everywhere in celebrating important events in their lives." In addition to photographs of traditional costumes and customs, each child from the wide range of countries represented gives a first-person account of how holidays are celebrated. Children will enjoy learning about how kids like just like them have fun, and in the process will broaden their cultural horizons." -- Amazon Review
Recommended by Cubs Editors
Be The Change
Establish a family ritual to start the New Year off in a joyful way. Consider the way people around the world celebrate with their children here. Watch this lovely video of parents around the world expressing their wishes for their newborn children.
What are your wishes for your child? What does your child wish for the New Year? What steps can you take together to make those dreams come true?
Kindful Kids newsletter is a resource for parents who are keen to teach children about compassion and service. It reaches 3,646 subscribers. You can unsubscribe here.
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