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New Year's Resolutions for Kids and Students (60 Ideas by Age)

60 simple New Year's resolution ideas for kids and students, sorted by age: little kids, primary school, middle school, high school and college. Plus how to help a child pick one and a printable-style tracker idea.

MKMark King · Published Nov 9, 2026 · 4 min read

Kids can make resolutions too, and they often keep them better than adults do, as long as the goal is small, concrete and something they chose themselves.

Here are 60 ideas sorted by age, plus a few tips for parents and teachers.

How to help a child pick a resolution

1. Let them choose. Offer a few ideas, but the final pick is theirs.
2. Keep it to one. One goal they keep beats five they forget.
3. Make it something they can see. “Put my shoes by the door” is easier than “be more organized”.
4. Make a simple chart. A sticker or a tick for each day it happens.
5. Celebrate effort, not perfection. If they miss a day, just start again tomorrow.

For little kids (ages 4 to 6)

1. Put my toys back in the box before dinner.
2. Brush my teeth without being asked.
3. Say please and thank you.
4. Try one bite of a new food each week.
5. Help set the table.
6. Put my clothes in the laundry basket.
7. Feed the pet every morning.
8. Look at a picture book before bed.
9. Give my family a hug every morning.
10. Put my shoes by the door when I come home.

For primary school (ages 6 to 10)

11. Read for 15 minutes every day.
12. Pack my school bag the night before.
13. Make my bed every morning.
14. Practice my spelling words three times a week.
15. Play outside for an hour on weekends.
16. Help cook dinner once a week.
17. Write a thank-you note after my birthday.
18. Learn to ride my bike without training wheels.
19. Be kind to someone new at school.
20. Save some of my pocket money in a jar.
21. Learn to tie my shoes by myself.
22. Practice my instrument for 10 minutes after school.
23. Turn off the TV when my show is over.
24. Draw a picture for a grandparent each month.
25. Help a friend who is having a bad day.

For middle school (ages 11 to 13)

26. Write down homework in a planner every day.
27. Start homework before screen time.
28. Read one book a month that I choose myself.
29. Try out for one club or team.
30. Put my phone away during family dinner.
31. Learn to cook one simple meal.
32. Get to bed by a set time on school nights.
33. Ask a question in class at least once a week.
34. Keep my room tidy enough to find things.
35. Spend less time on games on school nights.
36. Practice a sport or skill twice a week.
37. Be nicer to my brother or sister.

For high school (ages 14 to 18)

38. Start studying for tests a week ahead, not the night before.
39. Keep my phone outside my bedroom at night.
40. Make a weekly to-do list on Sunday.
41. Ask teachers for help when I’m stuck.
42. Save part of the money I earn from a part-time job.
43. Get some exercise three times a week.
44. Volunteer once a month.
45. Learn to do my own laundry.
46. Read one book a month that isn’t for school.
47. Limit social media to a set time each day.
48. Try one new activity or club this year.
49. Look after a friendship I’ve neglected.

For college students

50. Go to every class, even the early ones.
51. Make a budget for each semester and stick to it.
52. Cook at least three meals a week instead of ordering in.
53. Visit office hours once a month.
54. Start assignments the day they’re set, even for 20 minutes.
55. Get seven or more hours of sleep before exams.
56. Call home every week.
57. Join one club or society.
58. Apply for one internship or summer job early.
59. Walk or cycle to campus when I can.
60. Keep one day a week free of schoolwork.

Ideas for teachers

• Have students write their resolution on a card and seal it in an envelope to open in June.
• Make a class resolution, like “everyone reads 20 minutes a day”, and track it on the wall.
• Ask students to name one small step for each week of January.

A simple tracker

Draw a grid with the days of January along the top and the resolution written on the left. Each day it happens, add a tick or sticker. At the end of the month, count the ticks together and decide whether to keep going, make it easier, or pick something new.

Need an idea that fits?

Put the area (school, reading, screen time, sport) and what’s in the way into our New Year’s Resolution Generator, and you’ll get small, specific resolutions that fit. Older kids and students can use it themselves. For grown-up ideas, see our list of 100 New Year’s resolution ideas you can actually keep.