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Hunter and Gatherer
Deep down, we haven't evolved as much as we would like to believe. Like the caveman, we still want to curl up next to someone during the dark of night so that we aren't so alone in the cold survival game. We want to feel safe, warm, and loved...
Moms: 5 Stteps to Organize Kids' Toys
Moms: 5 Steps to Organize Kids' Toys 1. Separate all your kids' toys into categories. Building blocks, tools, dolls, reading materials, action figures, and cooking items are all toy categories. 2. Make a list of your categories. List in the...
Oh Baby! Choosing the Right Baby Name
Naming a baby is no easy task. However, the following tips will help you give your baby his or her very first gift. 1. Religion: For some parents, religion plays a major role in choosing a baby name. Roman Catholics traditionally choose saints’...
Parenting Advice: When Your Kids Fight
Researchers tell us that 36 million acts of sibling rivalry occur every year. Some are severe. Most are normal. When your kids fight, they want you in the middle. They want you to be the judge and jury. They each want you to take their side. I...
Validating vs. Indulging Children’s Feelings
The following article is offered for free use in your ezine, print publication or on your web site, so long as the author resource box at the end is included, with hyperlinks. Notification of publication would be appreciated. Title: Validating vs....
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Fun & Easy Ways to Help Your Family Set Goals For the New Year
A New Year – A New Beginning
Here’s something for January besides the usual diet promises. The start of the calendar year is a wonderful time to celebrate life and new beginnings. It is no wonder so many of us choose this time to set goals for ourselves.
Most of us define goals as objectives that are within our control to obtain. Wishes, on the other hand, are our hopes and our dreams. It might seem impractical, but we still throw pennies into fountains and long for our wishes to come true. Here, we offer a different take on the standard New Year’s resolutions. Introduce your family to goal setting in a fun, child-friendly way.
Begin at dinner by discussing your own wishes and asking other family members to do the same. Give everyone a day or two to organize their thoughts, then gather in the room where your family feels most comfortable and begin to write. Let each person write as much (or as little) as they want. Leave a piece of paper on the breakfast table or in the car in case someone is suddenly inspired.
Remember that dreams are very personal. Encourage everyone to share ideas without adding the slightest criticism or suggestion. Let your enthusiasm motivate you. By writing and sharing your dreams you make them real. Often, the greatest reward is not the destination but the journey itself. This New Year commit to building your own family traditions.
Here are three ways to help families visualize their goals:
1. Create a
wishing tree. Have family members inscribe thoughts on colorful ribbons. Tie the ribbons to a barren winter tree. Listen to the ribbons whisper their messages as they flutter in the wind.
2. Cast your wishes to the wind. Using a permanent marker, write your goals on Mylar pinwheels. Place them in a bank of snow and declare your goals to the world.
3. Greet New Year’s guests with good wishes for the coming year. Write your resolutions or greetings on small slips of paper and package them in empty walnut shells along with small chocolates. Place a bowl of these diminutive gifts near the front door or at the end of a buffet line for a surprise treat.
Please feel free to publish the following article. Requirements For Reprint: Complete Article with no changes and includes the following byline and active link at the bottom of each article:
About the Authors: Rondi Hillstrom Davis and Janell Sewall Oakes are the co-authors of the award winning book Together: Creating Family Traditions. To check out their website that's jam packed with family ideas, visit www.togetherparenting.com
A courtesy copy of the publication this article is included in would be appreciated.
Copyright 2004 NineTwentyPress
About the Author
Rondi Hillstrom Davis and Janell Sewall Oakes are the co-authors of the award winning book Together: Creating Family Traditions. To check out their website that's jam packed with family ideas, visit www.togetherparenting.com
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