Mini Minds Hub · Free printable
New Years Resolutions
- StageKey Stage 2
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
New Years Resolutions is a free printable activity sheet where children look ahead to the New Year and make their own list of resolutions. It is themed around saying goodbye to 2022 and welcoming 2023, and it gives children a calm, positive way to think about what they want to try, learn or do differently. It needs only a pencil, and page 2 gives the grown up notes, help ideas and a stretch task.
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, and coloured pencils are a nice extra.
What is on the sheet
Children look ahead to the New Year and make their own list of resolutions. They decide what they would like to do, try or change, and write their ideas on the sheet. There is no right or wrong answer, so every child can take part. It works well as a quiet writing task, a talking activity or a family conversation about hopes for the year. Children can choose big ideas or very small ones.
How to write a good resolution
Keep it small
A small goal is easier to keep than a huge one. Tidying one shelf each week is more doable than keeping the whole bedroom perfect.
Say what you will do
Clear words help. "Read for a few minutes before bed" is easier to follow than "get better at reading".
Choose something you want
A resolution works best when it matters to the child. Adults can suggest ideas, but the choice should be theirs.
Plan a reminder
Decide where the list will live. A bedroom wall, a fridge door or a school bag pocket all work. Look at it again every so often.
What is a New Year's resolution?
A New Year's resolution is a promise to yourself to try something new or to do something better in the year ahead. Many people make them around 1 January, which is New Year's Day in the UK. Resolutions can be about school, hobbies, health, kindness or family time. The idea is to pause, look back, and decide what matters most.
Children often find big promises hard to keep. Small, clear goals work better than vague ones. It also helps to talk about what went well, and what to do when a plan slips. That shows children that a goal is a chance to try again, not a test that they pass or fail. Making a list is a good first step.
New Year facts
- New Year's Day is on 1 January in the UK.
- In Scotland, New Year's Eve is called Hogmanay.
- The song Auld Lang Syne is often sung at midnight on New Year's Eve.
- Many countries use the same calendar as the UK, so they also celebrate on 1 January.
- Some cultures celebrate their New Year on other dates. Chinese New Year falls on a different date each year.
Skills and curriculum link
- Goal setting
- Reflecting on the past year
- Planning ahead
- Writing sentences
- Speaking and listening
Ideas to help children choose resolutions
- Look back firstAsk what they enjoyed this year and what they found tricky. Good ideas often grow from these answers.
- Think about different areasHome, school, friends, hobbies and kindness all give ideas. Try one idea from each area.
- Start with action wordsWords like try, learn, help, read or practise make a resolution clear and easy to picture.
- Share the thinkingAdults can write their own resolution too. Children often find it easier when they see a grown up do it.
Key words
- ResolutionA promise to yourself to do something new or better.
- GoalSomething you want to reach or achieve.
- HabitSomething you do often, until it feels normal.
- ReflectThink carefully about something that has already happened.
- ProgressGetting better at something, one step at a time.
- KindnessDoing or saying things that help others feel good.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is for your child. Keep page 2, which has notes on using the sheet, help ideas and a stretch idea.
- Talk first. Ask what your child enjoyed this year and what they would like to try next year.
- Let your child fill in the sheet in their own words. Younger children can say their ideas while you write them down.
- Read the list together. Ask, "How will you remember this?" and "Who could help you?"
- Keep the sheet somewhere you can see it. Look at it again in a few weeks and talk about how it is going.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Start by talking. Ask, "What was your best moment this year?" and "What would you like to get better at?" Offer two or three ideas to choose from. Younger children can draw a picture of their resolution and an adult can write the words.
To stretch confident children
Choose one resolution and break it into three small steps. Write who can help, and how you will know it is working. Or write a family resolution that everyone at home agrees to try together.
Make it a game
Play Guess the Resolution. One player acts out a resolution without speaking, such as reading, tidying or helping in the garden. Others guess what it is. Take turns, and add each good idea to your list.
Talk about it
- What was the best thing about this year?
- What is something new you would like to try?
- What is something that you want to get better at?
- Who could help you keep your resolution?
- What could you do if you forget or find it hard?
- What resolution could our whole family make?
Take it off the page
Memory jar
Write good memories from this year on small slips of paper and put them in a jar. Read some aloud together and talk about why they were special.
Resolution poster
Choose one resolution and make a bright poster for it. Add a drawing, a short sentence and a border. Put it where everyone can see it.
Time capsule letter
Write a short letter to yourself about this year and your hopes for the next. Fold it, seal it and open it together at the end of the year.
Who it is for
Parents
Sit with your child for the first part, then let them lead. There is no need to hurry. Share one of your own resolutions, and avoid choosing for them. Look at the sheet again in a few weeks and praise any effort.
Teachers
Use it at the start of the spring term, as a PSHE starter, as a writing task or as a class discussion. Children can share ideas in pairs before writing. Display the finished sheets, and revisit them later in the term.
Home educators
Use it to mark the start of a new year of learning at home. It works for mixed ages, as younger children can talk and draw while older ones write in full sentences. Keep the sheets in a folder to review together.
Where this fits in
Before this sheet, children benefit from talking about their feelings, their favourite things and what they did well. These conversations help them think about themselves and put ideas into words, which is the base for choosing a goal.
After it, children can set goals for a term or a project, review how things went and adjust their plans. They can also use the same skills in writing, where they plan what to say, choose clear words and check their work.
Questions parents and teachers ask
- Who is this sheet for?
It suits a wide range of children, because they choose their own resolutions and answer at their own level. Younger children can talk and draw while an adult writes. Older children can write detailed sentences and add steps for how they will keep going.
- How long does it take?
It depends on the child. Some will fill it in quickly and others will want to talk and draw first. Let them go at their own pace. A relaxed chat before writing often gives the best ideas.
- Do I need anything except a pencil?
No. A pencil is enough. Coloured pencils or felt tips are a nice extra if your child likes to decorate their list. Printing in black and white works well.
- What if my child cannot think of a resolution?
Start by asking about the past year. What did they enjoy, and what felt tricky? Offer a few ideas from home, school, friends or hobbies. Let them pick the one they like best.
- Should adults make resolutions too?
Yes, it helps. Children learn a lot by seeing adults set goals and talk about them. Share a small, honest resolution, and explain how you plan to keep it. It makes the activity feel shared.
- What does page 2 contain?
Page 2 is for the grown up. It has notes on how to use the sheet, help for children who find it hard, and a stretch idea. Keep it for yourself and give page 1 to your child.
- What should we do if a resolution is not kept?
Treat it as normal. Ask what got in the way and what small change might help. A resolution can be changed or restarted at any time. Trying again is part of the learning.
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.