2025 New Years Resolutions for Kids By Connections Academy

December 30, 2024 byConnections Academy

4 min to read

A father is helping his daughter come up with a goal for the new year

This article originally published January 2023 and was updated December 2024.

Starting fresh can happen throughout the year, but the turn of the calendar can be an opportune time for everyone—adults and kids alike—to set new goals and envision their ideal year ahead.

As a form of goal-planning, New Year’s resolutions for kids can be a powerful tool. According to several studies, setting goals for school and life can help motivate kids with a sense of responsibility and purpose, and seeing goals through to completion can instill a sense of accomplishment, boost self-esteem, and build confidence

How to Set New Year’s Goals for Students

Help your student set goals this new year and turn them into actions with these best practices:

Start a Discussion

Instead of asking yourself, “How can I set goals for my child this year,” try engaging your students in age-appropriate self-reflection and discuss what their New Year’s goals could be.

Set Goals Together

Writing down your goals makes you 42 percent more likely to reach them, according to a study conducted at Dominican University in California. Students can write their goals out on a whiteboard or posterboard and display it where they’ll see it often. If your student is more visual, they might even try making a vision board. Make sure each goal is: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Timely.

Celebrate Their Wins

Pay attention to your students’ progress throughout the year and notice when they’ve persevered. Work together when they set their goal to come up with small rewards for their progress along the way such as getting to plan a family movie night or a fun activity with their friends.

7 Simple New Year’s Resolutions and Goals for Students

1. Try Something New

New year, new experiences. New Year’s resolutions for kids can include embracing newness in their life. This could look like anything from trying new foods at mealtimes to joining a new club.

Break it down: Since this goal is broad, help your student customize it and make it measurable. For example, “I will try one new food a month,” or “I will attend one after-school meeting for a new club.”

2. Make a New Friend

For online and homeschool students, socializing can sometimes be a challenge or can be scary for kids. Friendships take time—and it all starts with a simple introduction. This is a great goal for parents too. Reach out to other online or homeschool families and try to build connections.

Break it down: This goal doesn’t have to be daunting. It could be something as simple as, “I will introduce myself to someone new at least once per week.”

3. Establish a Better Routine

This is a goal for both students and families. If your mornings or evenings (or both) are feeling hectic, it’s possible that your routine could use a refresher.

Break it down: Start by brainstorming some ways to make your day easier. Could meal-prepping the night before make your mornings feel less rushed? Do you need to work on keeping bedtimes consistent? Pick a specific goal, stick to it, and adjust as needed.

An online student from Connections Academy checks her daily schedule to achieve her New Year's Resolutions.

4. Discover a New Hobby or Interest

New Year’s resolutions for kids can double as a way for them to find and explore new extracurricular passions as well. They just might find a new hobby or discover a new interest.

Break it down: Check out the opportunities in your area. If your student is athletic, you could explore local leagues. You can also find several clubs that meet online—from chess clubs to cooking clubs and everything in between.

5. Read More Books

The many benefits of reading for kids are no secret. Among goals for kids and parents alike, reading more can be a great one. Books can inspire creativity and introduce new words, ideas, cultures, and so much more.

Break it down: Your student’s goal to read more can take many forms, but the key is to aim to make it part of their everyday routine. For example, you can set a number of books to read per month. Or, you can set a bedtime reading goal of 20 minutes per night. Choose a goal that’s attainable for your student or family.

6. Improve Grades

Among goals for the school year, improving grades is a common one. Start by discussing their current grades and ask for their ideas on how they think they might improve. Encourage realism. For example, if your C student says they’ll aim for all A’s, you might suggest they move up slower—such as from a C to a B—and go from there.

Break it down: This is another goal for second semester that can take many forms of manageable milestones. Perhaps your student will benefit from an added 30 minutes of study time each day. Perhaps the goal is to simply improve their score on the next test. Remember to celebrate and encourage each time they achieve.

7. Get Active Together

Every family member needs to get exercise, let loose, and have fun—so why not do it all at once together? Show your kids the importance of movement by setting a goal to be active together.

Break it down: Your specific goal will depend on your family’s preferences. For example, if you all enjoy basketball, make a point to get out and play together once a week. It could also be as simple as mixing in a walk to the park a few times a week.

Let Online School Help Your Kids Accomplish Their Goals

Online school has helped many students reach their personal and academic goals. From top athletes to young entrepreneurs, families with students enrolled in a Connections Academy-supported school are able to take when and where their child learns into their own hands. Hear from an enrollment specialist and download our free eGuide to learn more about online school options in your area.