5 New Year Resolutions for a Fun-Filled Year of Learning
Dec. 12, 2016
It’s that time of year again; each year, many of us make resolutions for the New Year, vowing to follow through with lofty goals to eat healthy, lose weight, or to save money. However, sometimes our resolutions are thwarted by life, or a disorganized plan. Perhaps our resolutions are too broad or unattainable to bring lasting success. But what if New Year’s Resolutions were more manageable?
Recommitting ourselves our little learner’s education make the perfect New Year’s Resolutions! Keep reading to discover new ways to reinvigorate your child’s learning routine:
- RESOLUTION 1: Clean up your child’s toys, games, and learning apps for kids
Out with the old, and in with the new! The first step to revitalizing your child’s routine is reviewing what your child already has. Look through the toy box, take inventory on what toys and games are useful, and clean up the iPad tablet. Perhaps in a moment of desperation, an app was downloaded to distract your little one while waiting in a restaurant. This happens to us all!
No worries: simply delete these “fluff” apps designed to keep your child busy, and shop for meaningful learning apps that will not only keep them busy, but also keep them learning. With a plethora of fun learning games for toddlers available, there are plenty of options available to refresh your child’s library of toys, games, and apps.
- RESOLUTION 2: Review your child’s daily routine
Sometimes we get lost in the daily grind that we fall short on the daily routine and forget the goals we previously set. Review your child’s current daily routine. Is downtime being maximized to allow your little learner a chance to learn each day? Are bedtime stories and routines still being followed to a tee? Is there any time in your preschooler’s day to add in a small chunk of learning, or a fun learning game? Perhaps your child just needs a new routine to keep things interesting.
Try rearranging your child’s routine in a way that fits your daily schedule. By sitting down and reviewing your child’s routine, you can easily assess what needs to change, and what can be added to ensure that your child has plenty of learning opportunities, and hours of fun.
- RESOLUTION 3: Set new learning goals
Each year as your child grows, he or she has different needs. Maybe last year your child was mastering letters and numbers, and this year they are focusing on increasing vocabulary and cognitive or logical reasoning skills.
New Year’s is a great time to reassess what learning goals are age appropriate, and to evaluate how your child has progressed, and where he or she needs to go. Use this information to help formulate realistic new learning goals to accomplish.
- RESOLUTION 4: Find materials that advance those goals
Based on the goals you’ve set, shop around to find new materials that will help accomplish those goals. If your child is young and is just embarking on his or her learning journey, start with fun learning games for toddlers that will help your child to learn shapes, colors, numbers, and letters.
If you have an older preschooler who is working on writing, shop around for engaging apps that allow kids to trace letters and numbers. Whatever your child’s goal, there is a game to engage your child in meaningful fun learning.
- RESOLUTION 5: Plan learning trips or visits
Why not plan any learning trips now, while you’re motivated and invigorated to make new resolutions for your child? Decide which learning stops you would like to make for your little explorer. Will you take your child to the aquarium this year? Maybe your child has never been to your city’s science, children’s or history museums. Is there a special event at the zoo in the coming year?
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Look at your calendar, and your destination’s websites to plan fun learning trips that will excite your child to learn and explore. New Year’s Resolutions don’t have to be difficult or unmanageable. With a little bit of forethought and planning, you can create worthwhile and doable resolutions that your little one is sure to love!
