How do I help my child make New Year resolutions that stick?
THIS MONTH, WE ASK
How do I help my child make New Year resolutions that stick?
You could draw up a list of resolutions that you'd love for your child to make. But she won''t sustain one for any length of time if you chose it on her behalf. It's unrealistic to expect her to stick to a commitment that meets your needs and not hers.
That's why the list should come from her, not you. Ask her to think about aspects of her everyday life that cause minor problems. What could she do differently in order to change them? These ideas can then form the basis of New Year resolutions that means something to her and that she thinks is attainable.
Suggest that she selects a maximum of three targets to focus on in the coming months. These could be written on a chart in her bedroom, as a daily reminder. A few small-scale targets are more realistic than a long list of promises that involve too much effort to sustain.
With your support - and with you setting an example by having afew resolutions of your own - life at home could soon show very welcome improvements.
Dr Richard C. Woolfson
EDUCATION
Brian Caswell is the dean of Research and Program Development at Mindchamps. He has 15 grandchildren.
Helen Marjan is the CEO and director of Studies at Lorna Whiston Schools. Her three children are in their teens.
June Rusdon is the chief executive officer of Busy Bees Asia. She has three kids in their 20s.
Tina Stephenson-Chin is the executive director of Pedagogy and school principal at Etonhouse Newton. She has a five-year-old son.
Fiona Walker is the group managing director of Julia Gabriel Education – Julia Gabriel Centre, Chiltern House Preschool and Chengzhu. Her son is aged 13, and her daughter is 10.
PSYCHIATRY
Dr Cornelia Chee is a psychiatrist and director in the Women’s Emotional Health Service at the National University Hospital. Her daughters are aged 12 and 15.
CHILD PSYCHOLOGY
Dr Richard C. Woolfson is a child psychologist based in Britain. He has written 15 books on child and family development, and is Young Parents’ long-standing Age by Stage columnist. He’s also a grandfather of five.
CHILD PSYCHOLOGY
Dr Richard C. Woolfson is a child psychologist based in Britain. He has written 15 books on child and family development, and is Young Parents’ long-standing Age by Stage columnist. He’s also a grandfather of five.
PAEDIATRICS
Dr Chan Poh Chong is the head and senior consultant with the Division of General Ambulatory Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine at the Khoo Teck PuatNational University Children’s Medical Institute, National University Hospital.
Dr Natalie Epton is a specialist paediatrician and neonatologist at SBCC Baby & Child Clinic at Mount Elizabeth Novena Specialist Centre. She has three kids aged four to 11.
GYNAECOLOGY
Dr Goh Shen Li is a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist in the S L Goh Women’s Clinic at Mount Alvernia Medical Centre. She has three children aged two to six.
LACTATION & PARENTCRAFT
Kang Phaik Gaik is a senior nurse manager and parentcraft/ lactation consultant at Mount Alvernia Hospital’s Parentcraft Centre. Her two children are in their 20s.
NUTRITION
Pauline Xie is a principal dietitian with the Clinical Services Division at the National Healthcare Group Polyclinics. Her three daughters are aged four to 11.
DENTAL
Dr Rashid Tahir is a paediatric dentist at The Kids Dentist. He’s also the president of the Pediatric Dentistry Association of Asia and an adjunct associate professor in the Faculty of Dentistry at National University of Singapore. His two daughters are in their teens.
FAMILY
Alfred Tan is the chief executive officer of Singapore Children’s Society. His two children are in their 20s.
Any views expressed by the Members of the Editorial Advisory Board in this magazine are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of, or are sanctioned by, this magazine. Members of the Editorial Advisory Board do not, by virtue of their membership, endorse or support any product or service advertised or articles featured in this magazine. The articles in this magazine are for your information only. Do not substitute them for the advice of a qualified health-care practitioner or professional adviser.
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