Has your family ever had “one of those years?” One when you get hit left and right or things never seem to settle down? For my family, that was 2020. I know we all had our share of crazy that year. I was pregnant and chasing around an 18-month-old! I was exhausted, and the whole experience, from appointments to the delivery, was strange. But despite all the weirdness, God gave us a baby! The sweetest, healthiest little boy we could have asked for.
When we have an eventful year or one we want the kids to grow from (and isn’t that all of them?), it’s important to take time to look back and talk about it with our kids. It’s healthy for kids to remember the good that happened in a given year and to process the not-so-good things, too. Want a place to start? Here are 7 end-of-year questions for kids.
1. Which place was fun to visit this year?
Out of all the places your family went this year—a vacation, a trip to visit family, or a quick stop to grab ice cream—which trip does your child have fond memories of? Are there any places he or she wants to visit again in the future?
2. Who did you become better friends with this year?
Talk with your children about their friends. Is there an old friend they’ve grown closer to? Or maybe they’ve enjoyed a new friendship this past year.
3. What’s the hardest thing you did this year?
Some end-of-year questions for kids are hard to answer. This might be one. Have your child tell you about the most difficult thing he or she did this year. You can even take this opportunity to talk about how the “hard stuff” leads to “good stuff” like overcoming fears and taking on responsibility.
4. What’s the first good memory about this year that pops into your head?
This is a fun one! Find out what moment your child remembers as the best memory from this past year. It might be something you wouldn’t expect. Depending on your child’s answer, this question can give you insight into what brings him or her joy.
5. What’s an adventure you would like to go on next year?
This is a great way to learn what truly excites your children. You can ask them to tell you about a wild adventure—even if it’s something you can’t realistically do next year. Then ask them to choose something they can realistically do, and maybe even help them think up a smaller version of the big adventure they have been dreaming of!
6. What’s something new you want to learn next year?
Is there a sport your child might be interested in trying out? Maybe he or she enjoys being in the kitchen and wants to learn how to bake a favorite dessert. Find out what aspirations your child has! Use iMOM’s Goals Chart to get it on paper.
7. What things do you want to pray about for the upcoming year?
Sit down with your child and make a prayer list for the upcoming year. You can add to the list throughout the year or help your child keep a journal. This is a great way to start a habit of prayer.
Add a couple of your own end-of-year questions for kids. What would you ask?
