Setting Resolutions with your Kids

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*** Monthly Feature Column ***

Positively Speaking
Building Assets in your Kids

by Kelly Curtis, M.S., author of Empowering Youth: How to Encourage Young Leaders to Do Great Things.

It’s that time of year again — time for New Year’s Resolutions!

Whether your resolutions are related to healthy eating, getting in shape, better communication or safer driving, the concept was always the same – setting goals.

But goals shouldn’t be set by Mom and Dad alone. There are many reasons to involve kids in the process as well.

Search Institute has identified Personal power as one of the 40 Developmental Assets. Research shows these are characteristics of healthy, caring, resilient kids. The more assets youth have, the more likely they’ll resist risky behaviors in the future.

Setting small goals — and achieving them — can go a long way toward building important assets like self-esteem, and planning and decision-making. But personal power resonates with me because of the way it empowers the child.

My family leads a very hectic life, and every year I set my own goals related to making our family function to the best of its ability. I share my personal goals with my kids and ask them to think of resolutions they might set for themselves, as well as what they could do to help me reach my goals.

This year, I’m resolving to be more intentional with discipline, so I’ll encourage my children to also set goals that will align with my resolve.

The Challenge
Share your goals with your kids. Then ask them what goals they have for themselves. Encourage them to brainstorm what they need to do to reach the goal, and how you can help.

Then, if you would, please come back and tell us your results!

Thanks for joining in to build assets in your kids! I look forward to seeing you again next month for Positively Speaking.

Kelly Curtis is a Wisconsin school counselor and author of Empowering Youth: How to Encourage Young Leaders to Do Great Things. To read more about Kelly, please visit her Weblog, Pass the Torch or follow her on Twitter.