New Year’s Eve is a natural moment to pause, look back at the year you’ve had, and think about what you’d like to do differently. It’s also the time most of us start making New Year’s resolutions — a chance to put things right and make family life that little bit better.
A resolution doesn’t have to mean giving something up. It can just as easily mean starting a good new habit, or simply keeping up something that’s already working well for your family.
Still stuck for ideas? Here are some of the resolutions the MyKidsTime team come back to year after year — pick one, pick a few, or use them as a starting point for your own list.
#1. Be More Organised
No more last-minute disasters! It’s not easy being a parent, but a little planning goes a long way. From meal planning to tips for getting everyone out the door for school, from back to school planning to Christmas planning, we’ve got it covered.
#2. Spend More Quality Time with Family and Friends
This one is always on the list. Life gets busy, and it’s easy for catch-ups with the people we love to slip down the priority list. If grandparents or family live further away, these creative ways to keep in touch with grandparents are a great place to start.
When you do get together, we’ve plenty of ideas for making the time count, including our favourite family board games and 50 things to do that cost nothing but time.
#3. Eat More Healthily
We know what it’s like trying to put together family dinners that everyone will actually eat. We’ve plenty of tips for eating a bit better, from overnight oats to sneaking more veg into meals to healthy after-school snacks.
#4. Explore New Places
If a family trip is on the cards this year, we can help you get there with a bit less stress, including tips to help you pack and prepare and the best ways to keep the kids entertained on the journey.
When you’re ready, check out our city and destination guides, packed with free things to do with kids in places from Hong Kong to Portugal. Staying closer to home? We’ve plenty of ideas for a great family holiday in Ireland.
#5. Get More Active
Finding time for exercise as a parent is tricky, which is why we love our 21 Day Health and Fitness Challenge, designed for busy families by health and wellbeing expert Fiona O’Donnell. More family walks and finding fun ways to get active together is another one worth keeping on the list.
#6. Do More Fun Things With the Kids
Finally, have a read of 100 Family Bucket List Ideas for the New Year — we hope they inspire you.
Have a wonderful New Year, and all the best for the year ahead!
Frequently Asked Questions
What are good New Year resolutions for busy families?
The resolutions that stick tend to be simple and practical rather than ambitious overnight overhauls — things like getting a bit more organised, cooking a few more meals from scratch, spending more one-on-one time with each child, or building in a regular family activity. Small, repeatable changes are easier to keep up than big, dramatic ones.
How can we help our resolutions actually stick this year?
Pick one or two things rather than a long list, make them specific (for example, “one family walk a week” rather than “get fit”), and involve the whole family in choosing them. Kids are far more likely to stick with a resolution they helped pick themselves.
What if we’ve already fallen off track by February?
That’s completely normal — most resolutions wobble at some point. Rather than abandoning the idea altogether, just start again. There’s nothing stopping a family from resetting a resolution in February, March, or any other month of the year.
Do New Year resolutions have to be about giving something up?
Not at all. A resolution can just as easily be about starting a good new habit, spending more time on something you enjoy, or simply continuing something that’s already working well for your family.
You Might Also Like
- How to Have a Fun New Year’s Eve with Kids
- Making Memories: Fun New Year Traditions to Start With Your Family
- 100 Family Bucket List Ideas for the New Year
- 50 Things to Do for Your Children That Cost Nothing But Time
Save These Ideas for Later
Not ready to start straight away? Bookmark this page or save it to your phone so you can come back to these ideas whenever your family’s ready for a fresh start — January 1st isn’t compulsory.
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