Family resolutions from experts at the Center

As we near the new year, families start winding down from the holiday break and begin to plan for 2015. During this time of year, families reflect on the successes and failures of the past year and set goals for the new one. To help plan for a great new year, the experts at the United Way Center for Excellence in Early Education have compiled a few tips to ensure families stay active, happy and continue to grow and learn together throughout 2015.

Family resolutions for the new year:

  • Reading to your child 20 minutes per day will help you build a stronger bond and you will be preparing him or her to succeed in school and in life.
  • Consider giving experiences versus toys, activities that provide quality time between parents and children.
  • Take time to teach your children about money and saving.  Start a piggy bank together and help them save for something.
  • Incorporate healthy outdoor activities into your family’s regular schedules. Two hours of play at a park every weekend.
  • Engage your children in fun cooking activities that teach them about where produce comes from. Cooking and baking are also great, fun ways to learn math and science (cooking measurements, elements that mix and those that don’t like water and vinegar etc.)
  • Teach your children about everyday household chores – fold the laundry with them, help clean up the table after dinner, take out the trash.
  • Expose your children to a variety of cultural events.  Plan trips to a museum, the ballet, the theatre, the symphony as a family.
  • Teach your children about recycling and helping to make the environment we live in healthier, cleaner and less polluted.
  • Make it a point to make a mess: bring out art supplies, roles of paper, some recyclable materials and create together. Make it a point to do this as often as possible.  At the end, make sure the child also helps to clean up the mess.
  • Make time for yourself. If you aren’t healthy, your children won’t be healthy.