This post originally appeared on The PediaBlog on January 5, 2018.
Make This A Better Place
(Adam@Home by Rob Harrell — GoComics.com)
The AAP is resolved to help parents raise healthy and useful children. On Wednesday, we looked at some New Year’s resolutions that parents might propose to their preschool children to help establish and reinforce reasonable house rules. Thursday, kids 5-12 years old had a chance to make some resolutions to help make their lives healthy and happy. Today, we turn to our teenagers and ask them to make one simple resolution for the new year: Try to make things better for everyone, but, above all, don’t make things worse.
Kids, 13 years old and older
- I will try to eat two servings of fruit and two servings of vegetables every day. I will drink sodas only at special times.
- I will do my best to take care of my body through fun physical activity and eating the right types and amounts of foods.
- When I have some down time for media, I will try to choose educational, high-quality non-violent TV shows and video games that I enjoy. I will spend only one to two hours each day – at the most – on these activities. I promise to respect out household rules for videogames and internet use.
- I will do what I can to help out in my community. I will give some of my time to help others, working with community groups or others that help people in need. These activities will make me feel better about myself and my community.
- When I feel angry or stressed out, I will take a break and find helpful ways to deal with the stress, such as exercising, reading, writing in a journal or talking about my problem with a parent or friend.
- When faced with a difficult decision, I will talk about my choices with an adult whom I can trust.
- When I notice my friends are struggling, being bullied or making risky choices, I will look for a trusted adult so that we can attempt to find a way to help.
- I will be careful about whom I choose to date. I will treat the other person with respect and not force them to do something they do not want to do. I will not use violence. I will expect to be treated the same way in return.
- I will resist peer pressure to try tobacco-cigarettes, drugs, or alcohol. I will also avoid the use of e-cigarettes.
- I agree not to use a cell phone or text message while driving and to always use a seat belt.