Mini Minds Hub · Free printable
New Year Family Goals: Free Printable Planner for Year 2
- ForYear 2
- StageKey Stage 1
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
New Year Family Goals is a free printable planner for Year 2 (ages 6 to 7). The family fills in a wall chart of small goals. Each person writes their name, chooses one goal and says how they will reach it. Page 2 gives the grown up notes on how to use the sheet, help ideas and a stretch idea.
It comes from the Mini Minds Hub, the free library of printables from Jaques of London, the British games and toy company that has been making games for families since 1795. Print both pages, give page 1 to your child and keep page 2 for yourself. Black and white printing works well.
What is on the sheet
Children fill in a family goals table. The columns are Who, Our goal, How we will do it and Done. Each person writes their name, chooses one small goal and says how they will reach it. Then the chart goes on the wall. When a goal is done, the child draws a tick in the Done column. The aim is small, clear goals that a six or seven year old can picture.
- Who
- Our goal
- How we will do it
- Done
How to choose a good family goal
Keep it small
A small goal is one a child can do this week. Putting shoes away or reading a book at bedtime is easier to start than a big goal like getting better at everything.
Make it clear
A clear goal says what will happen. Try "I will read a book before bed" instead of "I will read more". Everyone can see when it has been done.
Say how
The How we will do it column turns a wish into a plan. Ask, "What will you do first?" and "Who can help you?"
Join in as adults
Grown ups fill in a row too. Children see that everyone has goals, and that trying and ticking is normal for the whole family.
Why make goals at New Year?
New Year's Day is on 1 January, and many families use it as a fresh start. Some people call their plans resolutions. Adults often choose big, vague ones, which can be hard to keep. For young children, the idea works best when it is turned into something small, close and easy to see.
Setting a goal means deciding what you want to do and how you will do it. For a six or seven year old, that is a real skill. They have to think ahead, choose, put the plan into words and then notice when it has happened. A tick on a chart gives a clear, friendly sign of progress.
Skills and curriculum link
- Planning
- Writing
- Teamwork
- Making choices
- Speaking and listening
Helping your child set goals
- Start with interestsGoals feel easier when they matter to the child. Ask what they would like to get better at, try or do more often.
- Use action wordsA goal that starts with a doing word is easier to picture. Try words like read, tidy, draw, practise or help.
- Talk about the planAsk, "What will you do?" and "When will you do it?" Saying the plan aloud helps children remember it.
- Notice effortPraise the trying, not only the tick. A goal that is hard but still attempted is worth talking about.
Key words
- GoalSomething you want to do or achieve.
- PlanThe steps you decide on before you start.
- ResolutionA promise to yourself to do something at the start of a new year.
- HabitSomething you do often, until it becomes easy and normal.
- TickA mark that shows something is done.
- TeamA group of people who help each other.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is for your child. Keep page 2, which has the notes for you.
- Gather the family with a pencil each. Talk about what a small goal is before anyone writes.
- Fill in one row each. Write your name, choose a goal and say how you will do it.
- Hang the chart on the wall where everyone can see it. Draw a tick in the Done column when a goal is achieved.
- Come back to the chart another day. Talk about what is working and what to change. Repeating a familiar activity builds confidence.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
A grown up can write the words while the child chooses the goal and draws a tick each day. Offer two or three ideas to pick from, such as tidying toys or reading a book, so choosing feels easy. Start with one goal.
To stretch confident children
Make each goal measurable, for example read 5 nights a week, then check in after a month. Ask your child how they will know the goal is done. Together, decide what to keep, change or swap for a new goal.
Make it a game
Take turns to cheer each person on when they tick a goal. Make up a family cheer, a clap or a silly dance. Everyone gets a turn, and the cheer is just as big for a small goal as for a large one.
Talk about it
- What is one thing you would like to get better at this year?
- What is a goal that is small enough to do this week?
- How will you remember to do it?
- Who could help you with your goal?
- How did it feel when you drew your tick?
- What goal could we do together as a family?
Take it off the page
Goal drawing
Draw a picture of yourself doing your goal. Add a short caption underneath, such as "I am reading in bed". Display it next to the chart.
Family thank you notes
Each person writes or draws one thing another family member did well. Swap the notes and read them aloud. It practises writing and kind words.
Look back and look ahead
Sit together and take turns to say one good thing from last year and one thing you hope for in the new year. Listen carefully to each other.
Who it is for
Parents
Sit with your child for the first go and fill in your own row too. Let them choose their goal, even if it is not the one you would pick. Keep the chart low enough for them to tick it themselves.
Teachers
Use it in the first week of January as a starter, a plenary or a table activity. It supports spoken language and simple writing in English, and it works well for class discussion about small goals and sharing ideas.
Home educators
Print it for each child, or share one chart for the whole household. It pairs well with a family talk at the start of a new term or year. Revisit it after a few weeks and print a fresh copy for new goals.
Where this fits
Before this, children learn to make simple choices and to say what they want to do. They practise writing short sentences and listening while others speak. Those skills help them say a goal clearly and write it down.
After this, children can set goals that are measurable and have a time attached. They can start to review their own progress, decide what helped and plan the next step. Those are useful habits for learning in Key Stage 2 and beyond.
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What age is New Year Family Goals for?
It is written for Year 2 (ages 6 to 7), in Key Stage 1. Younger children can join in with a grown up writing for them. Older children can use the stretch idea on page 2 to make their goals measurable.
- Does the whole family need to take part?
It works best with everyone, because children see grown ups setting goals too. If your household is small, fill in a row each for whoever is there. A teacher can use it with a class or a small group.
- What counts as a small goal?
A small goal is one a child can picture and start straight away. Examples are reading a book at bedtime, tidying toys or helping to lay the table. It should be clear enough that everyone can see when it is done.
- What if my child cannot write the words yet?
A grown up can write the words while the child chooses the goal and draws a tick each day. The thinking and choosing are the important part, and the writing can build up over time.
- Is it free?
Yes. It is free to print for home and classroom use. You can print it again for brothers and sisters, or make a fresh chart when it is time to choose new goals.
- Is this a screen free activity?
Yes. It needs only paper and a pencil, so it works well for quiet time, rainy days and school holidays. It also gets children talking, thinking and writing by hand.
- Can teachers use it in class?
Yes. Teachers can use it as a starter, plenary, early finisher task, homework or table activity. It needs no preparation beyond printing, and page 2 gives help and stretch ideas for mixed ability groups.
Preview the full PDF
Made by Jaques of London, making games for families since 1795. A printable supports classroom learning and does not replace a teacher.