In the first issue of 2020, ParentsWorld presents A-Z model resolutions 21st century parents should make — it’s still not too late — to nurture cheerful, healthy and confident children and improve quality of family life – Mini P. & Cynthia John The start of a new year is a time of hope and new beginnings. It’s an occasion for making resolutions to adopt best lifestyle practices, change for the better and set personal and professional goals. The tradition of New Year resolutions is centuries old and follows the 6th century Babylonian practice of making promises to the gods at the start of the year that they would return borrowed objects and discharge their debts. Likewise, in 9th century BCE Rome, caesars and senators made good conduct promises to the god Janus, after whom the month of January is named. And in the medieval era, knights took the ‘peacock vow’ at the beginning of every year to re-affirm their commitment to chivalrous, knightly conduct. In the 21st century, the tradition continues with people worldwide making New Year resolutions. But then as now New Year resolutions are seldom followed through. In a series of studies concluded in 2018, University of Scranton, USA researchers found that 77 percent of the 200 people whom they followed over two years, were unable to stick to NY resolutions for more than a week. This percentage dropped to 50 in three months and only 19 percent were able to report remembering the resolution at the end of two years. But despite New Year resolutions being so ephemeral, the Scranton study highlights that people who make NY resolutions are ten times more likely to achieve positive change in their lives. An earlier 2007 Gallop study also revealed that 46 percent of people who set “realistic and common” New Year goals such as weight loss, quitting smoking, etc were ten times more likely to succeed than those resolving to make life changes at other times of the year. Therefore, with the first year of a new decade having commenced, this is a good time for parents — and children — to evaluate the past year’s hits and misses and resolve to adopt best practices that build children’s strengths, mend weaknesses and help them cross new milestones. In this first issue of 2020, ParentsWorld presents A-Z model resolutions 21st century parents should make — it’s still not too late — to nurture cheerful, healthy and confident children and improve the quality of family life. A. Appreciation Set an example by appreciating the life, people and material goods that your family has been blessed with. Encourage children to also express appreciation by writing notes to family members and friends. “We encourage our school students to appreciate one person every day and write three good things that happen to them each day. This helps children develop positive outlook and cope with problems confidently and optimistically,” says Veni Sukumar, head of education, Samsidh Group of Schools, Bangalore. B. Books Billionaire investor and philanthropist…
