New Year and a Small New Habit
A new year is a wonderful time to
begin again. For children, it is not about big promises or perfect behavior. It
is about learning, growing, and trying one small thing each day.
Habits help children feel confident
and capable. When children practice a small habit again and again, their brains
learn that they can do hard things one step at a time. Making the bed, cleaning
up toys, using kind words, or trying again after a mistake may seem small, but
those small actions shape who a child becomes.
This habit chart is not about being
perfect. It is about practicing. Some days will go well. Some days will not.
That is okay. What matters is showing up again the next day and trying once
more.
Parents and caregivers play an
important role. Encourage effort. Celebrate trying. Offer gentle reminders and
lots of praise for consistency rather than results. Habits grow best in an
environment filled with patience, kindness, and love.
As this new year begins, choose one
simple habit to practice together. Keep it small. Keep it positive. Keep it
fun. Over time, those small daily choices will become strong habits that help
children grow into confident, caring, capable people.
Here is the habit chart to get
started. Let this year be filled with small steps, happy progress, and many
moments to celebrate.
Bill Conley
America’s Favorite Children’s Storyteller and Author
New Year Habit Builder Worksheet
Small Actions. Repeated Daily. Big Change.
Name: ___________________________
Date: ___________________________
Step 1: Identify the Habit You Want to Build
One habit I want to develop this year is:
Why this habit matters to my life, health, purpose, or future:
Step 2: Make the Habit Small and Repeatable
The daily version of this habit will be small enough to do even on my worst day.
My daily habit action:
Time of day I will do it:
Where I will do it:
Step 3: Attach It to an Existing Routine
I will do this habit immediately after I have already done the following:
This existing routine happens every day:
☐ Yes
☐ No. If not, choose a different anchor
Step 4: Anticipate Resistance
The most likely excuse or obstacle I will face:
What I will do instead of quitting when this happens:
Step 5: Create a Simple Reward
After completing my habit, I will acknowledge it by:
This reinforces the habit and tells my brain it matters.
Step 6: Track Consistency, Not Perfection
I commit to never missing two days in a row.
☐ I understand that missing once is human
☐ I understand that missing twice creates a new habit
Tracking method I will use:
☐ Calendar
☐ Notebook
☐ App
☐ Other: ___________________________
Breaking a Habit That No Longer Serves Me
The habit I want to stop or replace:
What usually triggers it:
What I will replace it with instead:
What changes can I make to my environment to make the bad habit harder:
Identity Statement
Complete this sentence and read it daily.
“I am the kind of person who ____________________________________________.”
One Year From Now
If I stay consistent with this habit, my life one year from today will look like:
Final Commitment
I am not chasing motivation.
I am building a pattern.
I will show up daily, even when it feels small.
Signature: _______________________________
Date: _______________________________
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