Fun New Year’s Resolutions for Kids: Activities to Support Their Goals
The start of a new year is a great opportunity to set meaningful goals, and for kids it’s a chance to focus on growing skills in a fun and engaging way. Resolutions can be simple promises, like practicing something new every day, that connect to their therapy goals. Explaining this to your child can be as simple as saying, “These are little things we can work on together to help you get stronger, speak more clearly, or try new things!” By incorporating activities and crafts into their therapy plan, you can keep things enjoyable while reinforcing their progress.
"I Will Practice a New Word Every Day"
For kids in speech therapy, building vocabulary or improving articulation can feel like a big accomplishment. Resolutions that focus on daily practice help reinforce the skills they’re working on with their therapist.
Activity: Word Hunt Jar
Write target words or sounds from your child’s therapy plan on slips of paper and place them in a jar. Each day, pick a word to practice saying, using in a sentence, or matching to a picture. Use words that are relevant to your child’s therapy goals, such as functional vocabulary (e.g., “eat,” “go,” “play”) or social phrases (“I want,” “thank you”).
"I’ll Build My Fine Motor Skills Through Play"
Children in occupational therapy often work on strengthening fine motor skills for tasks like writing, dressing, or eating. Playful resolutions make practicing these skills less intimidating and more fun.
Activity: DIY Button Board
Create a buttoning practice board using fabric and large buttons. This activity directly supports therapy goals related to self-care tasks, like buttoning clothes.
"I’ll Stay Active to Get Stronger"
For kids in physical therapy, staying active is key to building strength and improving mobility. This resolution encourages them to move their bodies in ways that support their specific therapy goals.
Activity: Movement Game Board
Make a simple game board with different exercises on each square (e.g., balancing on one foot, jumping, or stretching). Roll a die to move and complete the exercise listed on the space.
"I’ll Celebrate My Wins in Therapy"
Recognizing progress is just as important as working toward goals. This resolution encourages kids to take pride in their hard work and celebrate all of their victories!
Activity: Progress Jar
Decorate a jar with your child and use it to collect small notes about their daily or weekly accomplishments. For example, write down when they say a new word, complete an exercise, or master a fine motor skill. Review them together at the end of each month.
A New Year Full of Progress and Possibilities
By aligning resolutions with therapy goals, you can help your child focus on what they’re working on in a positive and engaging way. These fun activities and crafts make therapy feel less like work and more like an adventure. Along the way, they’ll build confidence, strengthen their skills, and feel proud of their accomplishments.
Here’s to a New Year filled with growth, learning, and plenty of reasons to celebrate!
