What age are these New Year's resolution cards for?

The 30 cards are split into three age bands: easy for ages 4–6, medium for ages 7–9, and hard for ages 10–12. Each band matches what a child that age can realistically understand and follow through on by themselves.

Why don't any of the resolutions mention weight or appearance?

Because a resolution a child can't fully control isn't a fair goal. Every card here focuses on something within the child's own reach — a habit, a skill, or a small act of responsibility — rather than how they look or perform compared to others.

Do I need a sticker chart or reward system to use these?

No. Each card includes its own simple follow-up, like a quick evening question or a short weekly check-in, so you don't need a separate reward system that can turn into pressure to perform.

How many resolutions should my child pick at once?

One to three is usually enough. A child who picks too many resolutions at once tends to lose track of all of them, while one or two concrete goals are far more likely to actually stick past January.

Can we keep using the cards after January?

Yes — resolutions like reading five minutes a night or tidying a room on Saturdays work just as well in June as they do in January, so keep the cards up on the fridge or a wall for as long as they're useful.

What if my child doesn't manage to keep a resolution some weeks?

That's expected and part of the design — most of the follow-up methods here are built to restart cleanly after a missed day, like continuing a star row the next night, rather than treating a gap as a failure.

New Year's Resolutions for Kids – 30 Printable Cards

Activity Workshop · Printables

New Year's Resolutions for Kids – 30 Printable Cards

Most New Year's resolutions don't survive past February — for adults and kids alike. The usual reason is that the goal is too big, too vague, or aimed at something the child doesn't actually control. A resolution like "do better at school" gives nothing to hold onto. A resolution like "read for five minutes every night" gives a concrete, repeatable action — something a child can actually tick off, feel, and be proud of. These cards are built around exactly that logic: each resolution is phrased as something the child can do and see for themselves, not something measured against other kids or against a performance bar. None of them are about weight, appearance, or being "the best" — they're about practice, responsibility, and small, repeated choices. Every card comes with a simple way to follow it up together, without a sticker chart that quietly turns into one more thing to live up to.

About this sheet

Kids don't need twelve resolutions to make a good year — they need one or two they can actually picture themselves doing. That's why every card on this page describes a single, visible action rather than a broad character trait. "Read a book a month" is something a seven-year-old can picture; "be more responsible" isn't.

The three age bands aren't just about vocabulary — they reflect what a child can realistically manage without an adult doing most of the work. The easy cards for ages 4–6 lean on things a parent notices and reflects back, like a quick evening question. The hard cards for ages 10–12 hand over more of the tracking itself, because kids that age are ready to own a savings book or a practice log.

Every answer on this page pairs the resolution with a specific way to check in on it, because that's usually the part that falls apart by February — not the goal itself, but the lack of any simple rhythm for noticing progress. None of these methods rely on rewards or streaks that break the moment a day is missed; most are built to pick straight back up the next day.

Print the set, cut the cards apart, and let your child choose. A resolution chosen by the child, however small, tends to outlast one handed down by a parent — and a card they can hold onto is easier to remember than a promise made once on New Year's Eve.

What you get

30 resolution cards split across three age groups (4–6, 7–9, 10–12)
A concrete, kid-sized action for each card — nothing vague, nothing about weight or appearance
A simple, low-pressure way to track and follow up on every single one
Print-ready pages you can cut into individual cards

How to use it

Pick cards that fit your child's age. Start with the easy set for ages 4–6, medium for 7–9, and hard for 10–12 — or mix a few from each so your child can choose.
Print and cut them into cards. Print the pages and cut along the lines. Laminating them or sticking them on thicker paper makes them sturdy enough to keep out all year.
Let your child choose one to three. A resolution works better when a child picks it themselves. Two or three is plenty — more than that and none of them get the attention they need.
Use the simple follow-up, not a reward chart. Each card comes with its own light way to check in — a quick evening question, a tick box, a short weekly chat. Skip anything that turns into pressure to perform.

Download free

Pick an age, download the A4 PDF with answers, and print. No sign-up.

More activities More printables

Frequently asked questions

What age are these New Year's resolution cards for?: The 30 cards are split into three age bands: easy for ages 4–6, medium for ages 7–9, and hard for ages 10–12. Each band matches what a child that age can realistically understand and follow through on by themselves.
Why don't any of the resolutions mention weight or appearance?: Because a resolution a child can't fully control isn't a fair goal. Every card here focuses on something within the child's own reach — a habit, a skill, or a small act of responsibility — rather than how they look or perform compared to others.
Do I need a sticker chart or reward system to use these?: No. Each card includes its own simple follow-up, like a quick evening question or a short weekly check-in, so you don't need a separate reward system that can turn into pressure to perform.
How many resolutions should my child pick at once?: One to three is usually enough. A child who picks too many resolutions at once tends to lose track of all of them, while one or two concrete goals are far more likely to actually stick past January.
Can we keep using the cards after January?: Yes — resolutions like reading five minutes a night or tidying a room on Saturdays work just as well in June as they do in January, so keep the cards up on the fridge or a wall for as long as they're useful.
What if my child doesn't manage to keep a resolution some weeks?: That's expected and part of the design — most of the follow-up methods here are built to restart cleanly after a missed day, like continuing a star row the next night, rather than treating a gap as a failure.