On the first day of the New Year, our family likes to sit around and reflect on our year past. We will reminisce with old photos and talk about our favorite moments. Naturally, we think about ways to make this New Year even more successful, or fun, or enjoyable, or calmer. The theme can change each new year depending how everyone is feeling. Here are eight of our New Year resolutions to inspire your family to discuss your hopes and dreams for this upcoming year too!

1. More Family Time 

First and foremost, we want to spend more time together as a family. Less screen time and more engaging fun. When you are in the weekly grind it can be hard to slow down and spend quality time together. We agreed that for at least two hours during the week and two hours over the weekend, we have to put technology away and spend time together. We can play board games, outdoor sports, ride bikes, make a snowman, or just sit around the house. More family time is the gateway to success with our other resolutions as well, because the rest of the list mostly centers around other aspirational and fun activities we can do together. 

2. Make Homework Fun 

Our eldest sons resolution contribution.  He suggested in order to make this resolution a success we need to have lots of snacks. Next is to make a cozy space with easy access to tools (like coloring supplies, paper, and erasers) to help him get his work done faster. Somewhere quiet without technology, which we all agree is distracting. We think the dining room can be set up each day after school to meet these needs and give lots of work space to spread-out. Also, only serious workers please. The baby, who wishes to be involved but isn’t yet on the homework grind, is asked to kindly stay out. Respecting the workers and their space is essential! 

3. Taco Tuesdays 

Everyone is going to get involved with our Tuesday dinner. Since tacos involve a lot of smaller toppings to be cut and placed out on the table, it means everyone can be given a job to contribute. Dad and Mom will be in charge of cooking the meat or protein, but the kids get to sort out the toppings, prepare them, and then put them out! We like that everyone is more involved in making dinner and has a role to play. It’s fun to talk about the new (and sometimes questionable) choice for toppings! 

4. Read More Together 

We always read to our younger children at night, but we want to read more as a family. A chapter of a longer book, like Narnia or Harry Potter, is a good starting point. Our older children can contribute to reading and we keep it to just one page. We can also branch out and read poetry, short silly comics, or the odd spooky ghost story.  

5. Friday Movie Nights

At the end of a long week we all celebrate the weekend. Parents and kids want to eat pizza  and relax on the couch to watch a movie! Sometimes we will make our own pizzas. We will pick out three movies and all vote on them. Lately, we have been in a 1980/1990s classic kids movie kick! 

6. One New Activity Each Week 

This doesn’t have to be an elaborate plan, it can be as simple as walking a new street in your neighborhood after dinner, trying out a new game, or learning a new word as a family. It can also be as big as exploring a new museum on the weekend or taking a short road trip. The point is to help get out of your comfort zone and shake up the mundane.  

7. More Exercise 

This is always on our resolution list. We want to move our bodies more. Some days it means running with the soccer ball in the backyard, or playing a game of family football on the weekend. Sometimes during the weekdays, I will have the kids do a quick stretch workout with me. Our children love doing kid friendly yoga videos that you can easily find on YouTube. If you have time in the mornings, it is a great way to get everyone’s body moving! 

8. Savings Jar

We decided to try a new resolution this year and start a savings jar (or a savings bank account). Our children would like to work towards a few events, such as a Chuck E. Cheese visit and a trip to Disney. Everyone can get rewards for helping out around the house and earn money towards the savings jar. Also, if we skip on buying things we don’t really need, we can put that saved amount towards a family trip, bringing us back around to our #1 resolution goal of spending more quality time together!

Christine Russell Janis writes about life as a mom of four kids, living abroad, and travel on her life & style website ashadeofrose.com. You can also follow on social media @a.shade.of.rose.