Is Back to School Really New Year's 2.0?

Starting a new school year presents an opportunity for the whole family to start fresh in different ways. It is a time to reflect on the past year and think about what worked and where there's room for improvement. It's a new year, in essence, since so many new beginnings occur for everyone in the household.

Regardless of your kids' ages and where they are in their schooling, you can still set goals this New Year's 2.0. If your children are older, get them involved in making some resolutions together that you would like to work toward this year. Think about what would make this school year better by assessing different areas of your life. Evaluate what can be done to brighten your days and what you would like to achieve in the coming year. Here, six New Year's 2.0 resolutions the whole family can get behind.

If your child is in school, he or she will most likely be taught by a new teacher this Fall. Even younger children in day care or nursery school typically start out in new classrooms this time of year. With that comes the opportunity to freshly present yourself — and your child — to the school. Consider how and when you've approached teachers or caregivers in the year past. What went well, and what could have gone better? I found myself being very critical of my daughter's day-care provider recently and found myself asking her unnecessary questions. I have decided to take advantage of her having a new teacher this year and aim to start fresh.

Extracurricular activities can help kids — and adults — unwind and develop different skills. Maybe your child was so busy with extracurricular activities — be it sports teams, music lessons, or whatnot — last year that you were spent at the end of each week. Or maybe your child's routine lacked activities.

Think about the type of balance he or she needs along with his or her strengths and come up with a plan for this school year. Don't feel left out if you work full-time and your child is enrolled in an aftercare program — see what types of activities the program offers or find something on the weekend. Not all activities are cost-prohibitive — think about what your child can do in your area that stretches a dollar. I decided that my daughter could benefit from one weekend activity because I work full-time and can't take her during the week.

Children aren't the only ones who can benefit from developing this type of resolution. As a mom, you may feel that all of your time and your energy are devoted to activities for your children. Consider exploring something you can do with others in your family that benefits everyone involved like a mommy-and-me yoga class.

Some children are naturally more social than others. You may notice that your child gravitates to the same friends year after year or grows new friendships in different classes. Similarly, you may find yourself chatting with the same co-workers when there are new friendships to be explored in your workplace. Ask your child about the other kids in his or her class or activities, and encourage him or her to explore new relationships. You can tell stories about friendships you developed as a child or ask an older sibling to share how they got to know a good friend. To expose younger kids to more children, visit a playground, go to story time at your local library, or find music or gymnastics classes.

Ask yourself what you and your family want to work on this year — be it academic, social, or general life lessons. What can you learn or do to help improve your well-being? It's OK to have different goals for you and your children and combined goals as well.

If your children are old enough to come up with goals in this area, involve them. Ask them what they would like to set out to do. Maybe your child wants to get a lead in the school play or ace a math test. If your tots are too young to formulate such goals, help them come up with some or come up with some that are age-appropriate.

My young toddler is learning to talk, so I am focusing on building her vocabulary by reading and talking to her. Meanwhile, I'm setting out to unplug more. I used to turn my phone off right before I went to bed at night and turn it on right when I got up in the morning. I'm now trying to shut it off earlier and turn it on later. I'm finding that it helps me relax better at night, helps me think about the day ahead before being bombarded with information, and allows me to focus more on the here and now. I'm hoping that in turn this shows my daughter the importance of focusing on the moment, rather than focusing on the ether.

The new school year is a good time for families to look at their wardrobes from a fresh perspective. People feel most confident wearing clothes that are comfortable and reflect their personality. My young toddler is of course too young to come up with a goal that answers this question, but I am setting out to find clothes that she can play in — ones that can get dirty and allow her to be a kid. She's growing so quickly at this point that I would rather put money toward a new couch than a bunch of expensive outfits. Meanwhile, I need to purchase a few versatile and affordable items that I can wear to work through the Fall and Winter.

It's easy for families to get stressed during the school year. There are the stresses of getting out on time, working, and coming home to homework and chores. Think about your approach to life and how you can improve it to make this school year a better one. How we act and what we say make a great impact on our families. What can you do and how can you act so that the week is a little more carefree? I'm personally going to try to obsess less about delivering homemade meals and try to surrender more to reality. I'll do this by taking more shortcuts and holding myself less accountable. I've begun taking my daughter out for a quick casual meal on our way home from day care and work once a week or so. It is easier for me and a treat for my daughter.

The beginning of the school year presents an opportunity to start fresh. After you have thought about what you and your family want to work on this coming year, take out a piece of paper or type up a list and write out a few goals. You can make goal-setting into a fun project for your kids by using arts and crafts supplies like colorful paper, markers, and stickers to map out your New Year's 2.0 resolutions. Hang your resolutions up in a place where you can see them often, and check in monthly and see where you are in accomplishing them. It's an exercise in reflection and an opportunity to improve your life and the lives of others in your family.