The tradition of New Year’s resolutions goes all the way back to 153 B.C. when Janus, a mythical king of early Rome, was placed at the head of the calendar. With two faces – one on the front of his head and one on the back – Janus could look back on past events and forward to the future. At midnight on December 31st the Romans imagined Janus looking back at the old year and forward to the new one. And it was Janus to whom many Romans looked for forgiveness from their enemies before the beginning of each year, making him the ancient symbol for resolutions.
Every year millions of Americans engage in the ritual of making New Year’s resolutions. Some will succeed, some will not. The most common resolutions are those concerning diet and health. Increasingly those concerns include children. What is the secret to success for your family’s News Year’s resolutions? One answer is to not go it alone. Studies show that interaction and relationships play a critical role in the long-term health and well-being of individuals and families. So if health and exercise resolutions are on your list this year, getting your whole family involved is essential to making those resolutions work. As modern families struggle to balance work and their personal lives, the need to connect as a family over health issues is as strong as ever.
Our nation is facing a dramatic health crisis among youth. It is estimated that nearly nine million children are overweight or obese. A startling 16 percent of children in the United States have Type II diabetes. And according to the New England Journal of Medicine, the current generation of American children could be the first to lead shorter lives than their parents.
While current health statistics clearly illustrate why it’s important for kids to lead healthier lifestyles, many organizations also believe that well-connected families play a critical role in how to make it happen. Look at the facts:
- Participating in family rituals that foster togetherness and communication is strongly linked to adolescent mental health.
- Teens who eat regularly with their families have better grades and less depression and substance abuse than kids who frequently eat on their own.
- University studies show that young kids and teens who eat regularly with their families eat more fruits, vegetables, fiber and whole grains and consume less soda and snack foods.
(Source: www.YMCA.net.)
The good news is that small changes can have a major impact. The Centers for Disease Control found that participating in moderate physical activity such as walking for 30 minutes at least five times a week substantially lowered the risk of heart disease, stroke, colon cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity. And introducing healthy habits early can have lifelong benefits. Children who develop healthy exercise and eating habits while young are more likely to continue to lead healthy lifestyles as adults.
Setting goals that balance, nurture and strengthen spirit, mind and body are key to helping parents improve the quality of life for their children. Make it fun and be flexible. If you stumble, don’t let it get to you. Just get back up and start over again. Include activities you did in the past that were particularly fun for your family. And remember to write down your goals. Things that get written get done!
New Year’s resolutions can be a fun way to dedicate more time to the family. If diet and health are part of your New Year’s resolution goals, make sure to include the whole family. Making the commitment together will greatly improve everybody’s chances of success.
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For more information about Crossroads for Youth contact our Director of Development and Agency Relations at 248-628-2561, email us at info@crossroadsforyouth.org or visit our Web site at www.crossroadsforyouth.org.
