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Doing sport, eating healthily, changing jobs… There are dozens of famous good resolutions as the new year approaches, but they vary subtly depending on the profile of the person interviewed. An American survey specifically looked at the case of parents, and their first response might make you smile: above all, they want to be more patient with their offspring.
Between homework, leaving school, meals, crises, and other refusals to comply, many parents end the year on the rocks. They are far from being the only ones, of course, but they seem in any case, for some of them, to want to take advantage of the new year to modify their educational approach, in order, why not, to tackle the next twelve months in the most serene way possible. This is what reveals a survey carried out among more than 2,000 adult parents of at least one child aged 0 to 18 living with them, made public by the CS Mott Children’s Hospital, in Michigan. Parents did not wait for this time of year to stock up on new educational ideas, with nearly three-quarters indicating they had made resolutions or set personal goals throughout the year, but a quarter of respondents intends to reset the counters from January 1, 2024.
In detail, nearly one mother in two (47%) and more than one father in three (35%) see making these good resolutions as the ideal time to change their behavior towards their children. . Nearly three-quarters of those who want to change their parenting approach (74%) do so to become better parents, while an overwhelming majority (85%) think it can serve as a model for teaching children to settle down. and achieve one or more objectives. It now remains to be determined what resolutions parents have decided to make for the year 2024, and whether these can really be sustained over time.
Patience, mother of all virtues
Contrary to what one might think, the resolution most cited by the panel does not concern a concrete action, such as putting children to bed earlier, playing with them more, or simply preparing healthier meals. . No, it would above all be a question of being more patient with them for 78% of parents inclined to set goals for the new year. This is followed by spending less time on the phone (56%) and being more consistent with discipline (47%). This is pure education, but the parents concerned have also made good resolutions regarding the health of the entire family.
In this regard, it is above all a question of having better health for your child (52%), but also of preparing more balanced meals and snacks (48%), and even of doing physical activity with your offspring (37 %) – mothers being more inclined to set such goals (55% compared to 38% of fathers for healthier meals, and 41% compared to 30% for physical exercise). Note that a third of parents wishing to change their educational approach (34%) would like to involve their little one more in spiritual activities, while 21% intend to become more involved at school.
“Our survey suggests that parents often focus on areas they would like to improve in their parenting approach, including becoming more engaged, focusing on their own and their child’s health, and supporting their child’s bonding with the wider community. Setting goals to improve your parenting can help parents define their values and priorities and have positive effects on the health and well-being of the entire family.“, explains Sarah Clark, co-director of the survey, in a press release.
Get good grades, earn money
But parents wouldn’t be the only ones to have set goals for the new year, or to believe them anyway. More than half of those surveyed (53%) say that their teenager aged 11 to 18 also plans to make good resolutions. And it seems obvious that the latter have nothing to do with those of their parents. According to adults, children want above all to perform well at school (68%), before succeeding in the activity they have started (52%), to exercise (43%), earn money (40%), change their eating habits (40%), or try something new (39%). If they really set these goals, children will be able to count on the support of their parents, whether by celebrating each improvement – or attempt (70%), by simply helping them (58%), by accompanying them in the monitoring their progress (52%) or via money (51%).
“Setting goals helps children learn to be responsible for their actions and develop a mindset linked to the notion of progress. Parents who lead by example can also teach children the importance of working toward a goal and learning from mistakes along the way.“, advises Sarah Clark. And the author of this work recalls the importance of not aiming too high and of setting these resolutions over time: “We all know that people often make New Year’s resolutions that fade as the year progresses. If families are serious about keeping their resolutions, it is essential to set specific, realistic goals and allow time to take the steps necessary to achieve them“. In other words, it requires… patience.
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