As soon as the clock strikes midnight, and all the New Year wishes have been conveyed, the next task on the list is always what we’d like to do in the New Year. What will we resolve to do better, what will we plan to resume, incorporate or do away with this year? We as adults always have this part of the New Year’s plan sorted for ourselves, but very rarely do we involve our children in this yearly ritual. It might surprise you to know that our kids might have a thing or two to say in this respect!
Children can also be just as fascinated by the passage of time, which can come across as magical to them. The festive season in general - from the Advent period / Christmas countdown, to when they receive their Christmas gifts – all the way to the ushering in of the New Year. It is all very exciting and would be no wonder that they would (given the chance) like to take part in the yearly ritual of reaffirming or rearranging resolutions.
The act of pausing to consider how to make life better should be something to get everyone in the family involved in as it the decisions will have an impact on everyone.
Below are tips to help implement this with your child:
Each person in the family could talk about what their favourite things or moments were, in the year that’s about to come to a close.
Your child could talk about what they appreciated about themselves, and each other, as well as their lives. From that discussion, they will come to acknowledge and show gratitude for all the great things that occurred that year, in their lives – both large and small. We all know that things don’t have to be perfect for us to appreciate how many things are good. But it is really amazing how soon we can come to that realization once we take stock of our lives to date. This will in turn, open us up to receiving more in the coming year.
Ask your child if there’s anything they want to address and be done with for good as you make transition in to the new year. This is a crucial part of the process as you don’t want your child lugging matters that have been dealt with, along into the new year. This might be an issue your child had with his/her sibling. It would be ok to discuss this and clear the air once and for all. This can as it would, give you the opportunity to reassure your child of your help to ease them of that burdening issue and perhaps discussing possible ways to avoid any further conflict that could lead to your child having such an experience again. If you want to make it a more symbolic act / event, get creative by having everyone in your home to each list out their baggage to be left behind in the old year, on a piece of paper then putting them into a box and burying it. However you decide to (symbolically) do away with the issues of the year just gone, would be up to you.
I can hear the gasps and moans of concerns about this meaning your child would have to be up until midnight. Yes, this exactly what that would mean, but – ‘for one night only’ - and I also know that you will find a way to make it work! What’s more – the children will appreciate your involving them in all the new year traditions etc.
Have a great New Year from all of us at Leaders are Readers!
