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Home › Articles › Holiday: Winter › Family Resolve

Family Resolve

Making Positive Changes
This New Year

By Mark Stackpole

Pages:  1  2  3  

In addition to setting goals together as a family, Hansen believes that there are a few very important gifts that parents can give to children in order to provide a sense of what is important. "Give your children family pictures," he says. "Create family memories and leave a pictorial family history. Keep a journal so that your kids can really know you. My children got to know me by knowing what I was thinking at any given time. Maintain a library. The books you keep will give your children an idea of what you read, what was important to you and what you found influential. Kids can see where you have dog-eared a corner or underlined a sentence."

No matter how well last year's plans worked out, it is important to enter this year armed with the best of intentions. Life will always be busy and change will always be difficult. For her part, Erin Mitchell believes that she has found a key to a healthier and happier new year. "When I am more balanced mentally and physically, it affects me emotionally," she says. "It makes me happier, more flexible and even more loving with the kids. Better balance on my part will help me teach my children better habits overall."

Mark Victor Hansen's Tips for Starting the New Year off Right
  • Spend at least one day per week together as a family "Our family's day was Sunday," Hansen says. "We went to church and then had a weekly family activity."
  • Teach kids about nutrition. "I took my youngest daughter to a health food store and showed her apples, oranges and [other] produce," Hansen says. "We talked about health and how to prepare and enjoy the food. If possible, teach the same lessons by growing a garden."
  • Establish a family charity. "For example, each year I took my children on a build for Habitat for Humanity," Hansen says. "One way to be deserving is to be in service of others."
  • Every child should learn martial arts with their parents. "Children learn respect for the family and teacher," Hansen says. "The family will be able to stay physically fit together and will be able to protect themselves."
  • Read to your kids. "The Little Engine That Could teaches kids motivation and confidence in their abilities," Hansen says. "Dr. Suess books teach kids to be high-minded and expand their vocabulary."


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