For preschoolers, it includes:

• I will clean up my room.
• I will brush my teeth twice a day.
• I will wash my hands.

For those age 5 to 12:

• I will drink milk and water, and limit soda and fruit drinks.
• I will apply sunscreen when going outside.
• I will play a sport or do another physical activity 3 times a week.
• I will wear my seat belt.
• I will be nice to other kids.

For age 13 and older:

• I will eat at least one fruit and vegetable every day and limit soda.
• I will choose non-violent TV shows and video games.
• I will help out my community.
• I will resist peer pressure.
• I won’t text or use a cell phone when driving.

For the entire list of resolutions, click here.

I have my own list of resolutions in regards to my 3-year-old son. Here’s my top 5:

• I will find time, no matter what, to read to him 20 minutes a day, every day.
• I will find a way to get veggies in his diet. (I think I said this same thing last January, too.)
• I will get him to think that cleaning up his play room is actually fun.
• I will be sure he stays active year-round.  We’re starting off right with winter basketball.
• I will find some new and exciting places to bring him (taking suggestions!).

Do you have any resolutions you’d like to share?  Comment here or email me at esmith@opubco.com.

-Erica Smith

I’m always saying I’ll do things different but there is no better time to set goals than the first day of the year.  

Here are my Top 5 parenting resolutions for 2009:

1. Make my toddler eat vegetables.  My friend bought me the cookbook “Deceptively Delicious” by Jessica Seinfeld (Jerry’s wife).  I resolve to get broccoli or squash into every dish my child eats, even dessert.

2. Try to overlook the grosser things my boy does … such as drinking the bathwater.  Or sticking his dirty fingers in his mouth. Or dropping food on the floor then eating it before I can pry it from his hand. (This is going to be that resolution that I end up NOT keeping.)

3. Try to limit how many times he watches Cars or WALL-E.  We’ve both become addicted to those movies.

4. Try the “not-using-the-word-no-all-the-time” method.  For example: Instead of saying “No, you can’t have another cookie,” say “Yes, you can have another cookie … tomorrow.”  We’ll see how good that one works.

5. Get him potty trained.  I would literally pay someone to do this for me.  Or my son can use the “not-say-no” method just this once … “Yes, Mommy, I’ll sit on the potty … next year.”

What are your parenting resolutions?  Did you make any last year? Let me know by commenting below or emailing me at esmith@opubco.com.

Have a happy, safe and healthy New Year!

~Erica Smith