As your children turn one year older and hit new phases, you may find yourself feeling the need to evolve and change some habits yourself. The new year has brought with it an opportunity for change and growth that will benefit both you and your family.
So, read on to see some top mom goals for the mothers out there who want to make 2025 their best year with the kiddos yet!
BE PRESENT – MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR TIME TOGETHER
The biggest positive impact you can make on your children, especially in their formative years, is to simply be present with them when you spend time together. Forget your distractions, forget your worries, and just have fun with your kids.
You may believe that just sitting in the same room on your phone will have the same effect when your children are too young to remember this time, but that couldn’t be farther from the truth. Children require eye contact and your full attention from a young age.
Focused eye contact and social interaction even from infancy fosters your bond with your children and helps them learn key social and communication skills. That’s why many parents are making it a goal to get off their screens and foster quality time with their children whenever possible this year.
Before you know it, this phase in their lives will be over, so enjoy the fun of your children being this young for as long as it lasts!
Less Screen Time, More Nature
Speaking of putting aside your distractions and enjoying the moment, it’s time for you and your kids to put those screens away and get out into the great outdoors.
According to the Child Mind Institute, numerous studies have linked too much screen time from a young age to depression, anxiety, and even ADHD. For this reason and others, some parents are deciding not to give their children access to computers until they’re in their tweens, or older.
Sufficient time surrounded by nature can relieve or even prevent symptoms of depression and anxiety. Children need that time to explore their world, practice curiosity and creativity, and use their imaginations.
Time outdoors benefits you and your children both physically and mentally. So go out and get some fresh air, sunshine, and exercise. Just don’t forget your sunscreen and water bottles!
Of course, not everyone has time during the day to take the kids on a walk to the park. In that case, you may want to consider hiring a part-time sitter or nanny to help create more opportunities for them to explore their world safely.
Family Exercise
As the average American lifestyle continues to lean into less healthy practices like poor nutrition and sitting watching screens all day, it’s more important than ever to instill healthy habits in our children as early as possible.
Contrary to popular belief, a fit life begins in childhood. If you didn’t grow up learning a love of sports and being active, or how to exercise in a healthy way, it’s much harder to get into the habit as an adult.
You may already have a workout routine you follow. In that case, why not include the kiddos? Show them easy and fun exercises or play active games that get them up and moving.
Not only will this keep them healthier from a young age, but it could also help prevent diseases and health issues from developing later in life. And in the short term, you get to benefit from wearing them out just in time for a nap!
If you find yourself not having the energy to match your children’s enthusiastic play, a nanny or babysitter can step in to continue the fun.
Encourage Creativity
Just as exercise is incredibly important for developing physical health in your child, developing creative thinking is just as important for their mental health.
Creative thinking is crucial for problem solving, self-expression, and artistic ability. Encourage your child’s imagination and creativity by playing make-believe games instead of iPad games that do all the work for them.
You can also draw or paint together, make up stories and songs, build with toy blocks, and read books without pictures. If you have a sitter or nanny, they’ll likely have several tips and tricks up their sleeves to keep your child’s imagination engaged when you’ve run out of ideas.
Choose Game Nights Over Movie Nights
We’re not against movie nights—they make for a fun and relaxing evening in. However, when deciding what to do with the whole family, consider trading out a few movie nights for family game nights.
While movie nights involve everyone staring at a screen, maybe talking or laughing every once in a while, game nights allow you all to stay entertained while interacting with one another in deeper and more meaningful ways. Your focus will be on each other.
Many games, even simple ones, can also teach your children important skills like strategy, math, and deduction, without your child even knowing they’re learning!
Check in With Your Kids Often
It’s important to teach your kids from a young age that you’re always there for them and interested in what they have to say.
Establishing this trust will help you maintain a close relationship as they get older and encourage them to talk to you when they run into problems or have a bad day.
Even if everything seems okay, make it a point to check in with your child every once in a while and just listen to what they have to say. Even if their problems seem small compared to adulthood, children have a different perspective. They’re just learning how the world works.
Have grace for even the smallest of issues. Help your child develop healthy ways to think through problems, cope with stress, anger, and sadness, and overcome obstacles. They’ll thank you later.
Get Some Time for Yourself
As important as it is to spend quality time with your children to strengthen your bond and support them through life, you’re also going to need some time to yourself to relax.
We’re always putting our children’s needs before our own, and while that’s just part of the job, that doesn’t mean you can’t tend to your own mental and physical wellbeing.
Even if all the time you can find for yourself is a hot bath, a solo shopping trip, a quick massage appointment, or a walk in the sunshine, these little moments can help you decompress and put your best foot forward for your kids.
If you struggle to find some time for yourself, consider hiring a sitter or nanny. You’ll suddenly have much more freedom to get things done, sit and relax, or go on dates with your partner.
And if you find yourself really struggling and needing an outlet, talking to a therapist is always a good idea.
Ask for Help When You Need It
Let’s face it—motherhood is hard! You’re going to need a good support network.
Don’t be afraid to reach out to the people in your life and ask for a little help here and there, whether that means watching the kids for a moment, dropping them off or picking them up from school, grabbing you something from the grocery store, or offering new mom advice.
Raising kids really does take a village. But sometimes, the village is busy. That’s why it’s such a blessing to have a nanny or sitter available to offer a helping hand. Take a look through our database to find the best nannies and sitters near you!
We wish you and your children a wonderful year together! You’ve got this.
Connect with local nannies in your area.
