January… it’s the start of a fresh new year! It’s the time when vows are made to eat healthy and get more exercise. Goals are set and predictions offered for increased wealth, peace and joy. While you are reflecting the changes you want to make in your personal life, also consider your children and changes you may need to make with them.

As you ponder the next twelve months of parenthood, here are a few resolutions to consider:

• Be consistent with your discipline. Set consistent limits and boundaries, even for adolescents.
• Focus on your children’s positive behaviors. Get into the habit of catching kids being good. Children respond to favorable remarks and are likely to adopt good behaviors that gain them attention.
• Encourage children persistently. Exposure to continuous criticism and negative comments can have devastating effects on a child’s self esteem.
• Spend more time together as a family. Have at least one shared mealtime each week or spend one weekend a month devoted solely to family purposes.
• Control the television. If the television is continually on in your house, it’s time to establish some limits for viewing. Ten hours a week is a reasonable amount of time for children of most ages.
• Keep misbehavior in perspective. At times it may seem that your children are the world’s worst. If your child misbehaves, chances are they are not trailblazers. Many others mess up too.

Let’s look at 2010 with hopes of a restored economy, happy families, and many visits to the mall.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!