United Way of Northern Arizona — Helping Kids and Teens Start the New Year Strong

One of United Way of Northern Arizona main focuses has been efforts to empower our children and teens so they can become resilient, successful youth.

As we step into 2025, it’s a wonderful time to help the children and teens in our lives set positive goals for this year.

Engaging young people in conversations about New Year’s resolutions can provide a great opportunity to foster growth and well-being. Here are 5 simple ways you can help support them:

From the desk of:

Liz Archuleta

President & CEO

1. Set Age-Appropriate (and Realistic) Goals. Encourage achievable resolutions so that your child doesn’t fall into the trap that 80% of adults do by February: giving up on our resolutions.

For a younger child, an appropriate resolution might be to help develop good habits, like brushing your teeth twice a day, or remembering to thank people for going out of their way to help you.

Older teens can focus on broader goals such as improving time management, going to bed earlier, or getting a 15-minute walk in each day.

2. Foster a Growth Mindset. Help the youth in your life understand that mistakes are part of the journey. Teach them to view setbacks as learning opportunities to build resilience and confidence.

3. Prioritize Mental Health. It’s vital that we discuss the importance of mental well-being with our kids. Encourage open communication and introduce practices like mindfulness, journaling, or seeking support when needed. These practices can empower youth to handle challenges throughout the year – and throughout their lives.

4. Model Healthy Behaviors. Children and teens often emulate adult behaviors. Share your own goals and demonstrate how to approach them with determination and flexibility.

5. Celebrate Efforts, Not Just Outcomes. Recognize and applaud their efforts regularly to keep motivation high and reinforce the value of persistence.

By guiding kids and teens through goal-setting and emphasizing mental health, you’re equipping them with tools to thrive in the New Year and beyond. Let’s make 2025 a year of growth and positivity for the youth in our community!

Help Lead the Way for our youth in Navajo, Apache, and Coconino counties by making a donation today to the United Way of Northern Arizona’s annual campaign. Investing in our youth is an investment in keeping our communities thriving for generations to come. Please join us and make your donation through your workplace campaign or by clicking on the button below.

THANK YOU!