By mid-January, most adults have already loosened their grip on New Year’s resolutions. For kids, that drop-off can happen even faster—not because children lack motivation, but because many resolutions rely on executive-function skills like impulse control, introspection, and future thinking that are still developing well into adolescence.

Research consistently shows that kids are more likely to follow through when goals are small, specific, emotionally meaningful, and supported by adults. In other words: fewer goals, less pressure, more practice.

As Dr. Laura Markham emphasizes, self-discipline isn’t something children “have” or “don’t have,” but a skill that develops over time with guidance and practice. Resolutions help nurture that skill by letting kids experience success in keeping them.

By upgrading everyday routines into joint resolution exercises, parents can help kids score small successes, build confidence, and tackle resolutions that are realistic and rewarding.

Resolution #1: Try One Hard Task for a Month

A “hard task” may be learning a piano piece, swimming without a float, writing a short story, reading for 30 minutes a day, or finishing a LEGO build without quitting.

Angela Duckworth’s research on grit emphasizes that perseverance grows when children engage in deliberate practice for a limited time, not endless pressure. Starting with a month provides a long enough runway to feel progress—without overwhelming.

What to say as a parent:
“You don’t have to love it. You just have to try.”

What kids learn:

• Effort changes ability.
• Discomfort doesn’t mean failure.
• Quitting isn’t the same as stopping intentionally.

Resolution #2: Practice Fixing Mistakes (Not Avoiding Them)

Many kids avoid challenges because mistakes feel personal. A powerful resolution is learning how to repair and rebound.

This might look like:

• Apologizing when they hurt someone
• Giving the next practice their all after losing a game
• Asking for help instead of melting down

Psychologist Dr. Ross Greene notes that “kids do well if they can.” When kids seem “challenging,” it’s usually because they’ve encountered a skills gap and don’t know how to handle it. Practicing repair builds emotional regulation and resilience far more effectively than insisting on “better behavior.”

Parents can think of this resolution as a weekly reflection, not a daily task:
“What was one thing that didn’t go well this week? What did you do next?”

What kids learn:

• Mistakes are survivable.
• Relationships can be repaired.
• Effort counts more than outcome.

Resolution #3: Do One New Thing Each Month

Novelty builds confidence – especially when the stakes are low.

Trying one new thing a month could be:

• A short workshop
• A new art material
• A science experiment
• A camp day or class
• A new friendship

Child development research shows that varied experiences help children discover intrinsic motivation – the kind that lasts longer than rewards or pressure. When kids sample activities without commitment, they learn who they are.

This is where Shine NYC naturally fits in – not as a promise of mastery, but as a place to try. Camps, courses, and workshops give kids structured novelty with support, which is exactly the combination that will help them keep this resolution.

What kids learn:

• Curiosity is an engine for learning.
• New doesn’t mean scary.
• Interests can change—and that’s okay.

Resolution #4: Talk About Feelings Once a Week

Emotional literacy grows when kids have predictable, low-pressure moments to reflect. Weekly check-ins—during a walk, at bedtime, or over a snack—are far more effective than constant emotional coaching.

Studies in child psychology show that naming emotions helps children regulate them later. But timing matters: kids open up when they feel safe, not interrogated.

Parents might try a simple question:
“What was something that felt hard this week?”

What kids learn:

• Feelings aren’t emergencies.
• Adults are safe to talk to.
• Reflection builds self-awareness.

What Helps Kids Stick With a Resolution?

Once an idea’s selected, parents can support a resolution by keeping these concepts in mind:

• Time-bound goals beat ongoing ones. “Every day” is abstract. “Once a week” or “for one month” feels possible. Once the first milestone’s reached, a new one can be set.
  
• Identity matters. Kids stick with goals that help them see themselves differently (like “I’m someone who tries”) rather than goals that focus on outcomes (like “I’ll get straight As on my spelling tests.”)
  
• Adult scaffolding is key. Children are more likely to succeed when adults co-regulate – reminding, practicing, and adjusting expectations – and model what success looks like.
  
• Repair matters more than perfection. Confidence grows not from never making mistakes, but from recovering from setbacks and gaining the ability to influence one’s environment. Kids sometimes need a reminder that following through after forgetting a resolution matters more than perfection.

The Real Goal of Kids’ Resolutions

The point isn’t follow-through for its own sake.

It’s helping kids experience:

• “I can try.”
• “I can mess up and recover.”
• “I can finish something hard.”

Those lessons last longer than January – and they’re the kind that quietly shape who kids become. If your child keeps one resolution this year, that’s no small win. That’s growth.