By Karen Whiting

Start with reading the creation story that shows how God started the world. Chat about what it must have been like to be the first people to see colors, animals, plants, and one another. Thanks God for the world he created. Consider one place you’d like to explore near your home this year and one place that you might want to help care for the area to help keep God’s world beautiful.

1. New love. Remind them your love and mercy is fresh every daylike God. Read Lamentations 3:23 and have a big new group hug. If desired, pass our some little chocolate hugs and kisses.

2. New Foods. Remind children they need to eat healthy to keep their bodies healthy. Try a new food or recipe that’s good for them.

3. New Books. Engaging the mind to think with reading helps us grow our thinking skills, so pass out new books for everyone or a new book to read together as a family.

4. New Devotional or Bible. We also need to grow spiritually, so open a new family devotional or individual ones for each member. Add a journal and colored pencils for letting them jot down their thoughts and what they learn as well as prayer needs and praises.

5. New Games. As a reminder to grow together and have new fun, open up a new game that’s fun for the family. Set a date for monthly game night and be ready to have fun playing together all year.

6. New healthy body choices. Get up and move or exercise. Talk about keeping fit and making bodies strong. Take a walk, play outdoors, or dance to music.

7. New character development. Discuss the importance of character especially kindness, courage, and faithfulness. Share ways you cay work on your character growth. Choose a few ways to show kindness this week.

Focusing on growth for the year as well as bonding activities for your family should brighten the day and start the year with hope and positive thoughts. Consider focusing on one of these ideas each hour to have time to really think about each and why each aspect is so important to become better people.

Have a blessed year!

Karen.

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