As we all know, January is famous for the making and breaking of New Year's resolutions. We, adults, tend to get over ambitious with our goals, and we often drag the entire family in with us. Show of hands: Who is currently making the family eat veggies? Embarking on a strict reading schedule? Going cold turkey off sugar? And how long do you think that's gonna last?

When it comes to resolutions, we're more prone to success if we set reasonable goals, then work steadily towards them. This approach works for the goals we set for ourselves and the goals we set for our kids and our households. And better yet, it's a great way to help kids learn a new skill or brush up on something they've always enjoyed. It may not get your kids eating mounds of Brussels sprouts, but they'll learn a new skill, you'll spend some time together, and everyone will have a good time!

First, set a goal or two. Then, you can work with your child to make one that's "fun" and one that "must be done." So, for example, if your child wants to cook dinner solo, you can make that the "fun" goal, and if you want your child to keep her room cleaner, that can be the "must be done" goal.

Then, set aside one hour a week, per goal, for the next four weeks. Do a little research, and find programs or activities that can help you in your quest. Do some planning ahead at home as well, and if you find that you're having fun or need more time to reach your goal, you can build in more as you need it. The key is to start small and be specific. Here are a few suggestions to get you started

Fun Goals

Be a better artist: Set up a home studio or art area and dedicate one hour per week to perfecting your artistic. Fiddle around with line and shape, experiment with mediums, draw portraits of each other! Or take advantage of the many great classes offered by the Armory and the public libraries.

Cook dinner solo:

1. Let your child work in the kitchen with you, show her how to prepare simple foods, and give them a lesson or two in kitchen safety.
2. Plan the menu and go shopping together.
3. Sit back and relax, and let your kids cook a meal for the family!

Learn to code a game: Research game design together and develop some ideas for your own video games. Then, learn to create and design simple computer and video game programs from one of the many online and local programs (pro tip: check your local library branch).

Make a movie: Come up with an idea for your film. Write a script, then cast it with family members (and pets if they're willing!) Choose locations around the house and yard. Shoot it, and use your computer or phone to put it all together. Take advantage of the wealth of instructional videos on Youtube to create anything from a scary tale to a fairy tale. Animation too!

Must be Done Goals

Read More: Start a book club-just you and your child, or join one of the many clubs offered through our local libraries. Choose a longer chapter book and read/discuss it over four weeks, or choose shorter books to read and discuss in each one-hour chunk. (And voila - you've now read four books!)

Keep your room clean: Spend one hour a week organizing clothes, toys, and books, teaching bed-making skills, and sorting out items to donate. Then, take a trip to a local thrift shop, shelter, or charity to donate your old things. Or, hold a yard sale and let your child keep the proceeds for everything they sell. 

Eat more fruit and veggies: Go to a different farmer's market each week and try a new fruit or veggie each time. Or better yet, visit a farm where you can pick the produce yourself! Then let the kids help with preparing their produce. For example, make a fun veggie dip or fruit skewers, or cut your fruit into cool shapes with cookie cutters.

Get some exercise: Spend one hour a week playing. Choose the activity by drawing straws or assigning a week to each family member. Throw the football at the park, or play tennis. Play tag, hide & go seek, red light green light. Ride bikes to the park, or go big and take them down to the riding paths at the beach. Fly kites. Grab some friends for a good old-fashioned game of kickball. Just get out there and get moving!

Happy January!

Julie Ward

Royal Court Tea Party

Your family is invited to join the Rose Queen and her court. They will read their favorite princess stories and share what it's like to participate in the Tournament of Roses. It all happens on January 15, from 1:30 PM till 3:30 PM at the Hastings Branch Library. See the event for details and restrictions.

LEGO Science

Join the Monrovian librarians in Library Park for fun, dynamic science experiments using LEGOs on January 26, from 2:00 PM till 3:00 PM. All materials will be provided. Registration is required. Hurry! There are only a few seats left!

Take & Make: Lunar New Year Handprint Tiger

Celebrate the Lunar New Year by making a handprint tiger with the folks at the Hastings Branch Library from January 24 through 28. Reserve a craft kit online starting January 24. Craft kits are available while supplies last.

Nights of Lights and Wonder in Arcadia

The LA County Arboretum in Arcadia hosts the internationally acclaimed Lightscape event through January 16, 2022. Your family can wander through the Winter Cathedral and experience the Fire Garden and more. It's an unforgettable holiday event for everyone. Check out the site for tickets and details.

Creative Writing with Emily

Teen writing instructor Emily will provide tips, prompts, ideas, vocabulary and skills training for writing fiction. Every month is a different focus. This online workshop is open to Tweens (ages 9-12). It happens on January 15, from 2:00 PM till 3:00 PM. Registration is required.

Lucha Libros Team San Rafael

On January 19, from 3:00 PM till 4:00 PM, the San Rafael Team of second-grade luchadores will meet at the library branch to discuss the book Junie B Jones and Her Big Fat Mouth. Advance registration is required.

Chinese New Year Toy Drum

Join the Santa Catalina Branch librarians to make a paper plate drum to welcome in the Year of the Tiger! It all happens on January 22, from 11:30 AM till 12:30 PM.

Read Around the World Book Club: Vietnam

Every other month (odd-numbered), the Read Around the World Book Club takes your kids in grades 3-5 on a literary journey. The club meets to discuss a middle-grade book set in another country or culture. This month the book is Girl Giant and the Monkey King by Van Hoang. In addition, participants will learn about Vietnam and make decorations for Tet, the Vietnamese New Year. This club meeting will be online on January 26, from 4:00 PM till 5:00 PM. Registration is required.

Chocolate Storytime

Join the La Pintoresca Branch librarians for an afternoon of storytelling, crafts, and village building featuring stories by or about African Americans. It happens on January 28, from 4:00 PM till 5:00 PM.

LEGO Community: Let's Build!

Come by the Altadena Library's Reading Court and add to its Lego community in honor of National Lego Day on Friday, January 28, from 10:00 AM till 5:00 PM. The library will provide Lego, bases, idea books, and a limited supply of craft activities. All ages are welcome!

Family Nature Club

The LA Zoo and the LA Department of Recreation & Parks is back with Family Nature Club. You and your family can enjoy some loosely structured outdoor play on the last Saturday of every month for free! Your kids get to explore nature through art, building, observation, and imagination. The next one is January 29, from 9:00 AM till 10:30 AM. See the site for more information.

These events are regularly scheduled, and many do not require registrations. That said, please check with the event host in case of holidays, weather, COVID, or other reasons to cancel or reschedule.
 

Afternoon Games

The whole family is invited to the Villa Parke Community Center Branch Library to play games, from board games to giant dominos. The fun happens on Tuesdays, from 2:00 PM till 4:00 PM.

Infant & Toddler Storytime

Your little ones (ages 0-2) and their caregiver can join the Pasadena librarians weekly at 10:30 AM for 20 minutes of reading, rhyming, and singing fun! 

Lamanda Park Branch - Tuesdays

Allendale Branch - Wednesdays

Santa Catalina Branch - Thursdays

Preschool Storytime

Your kids (ages 3-5) can join the Pasadena librarians weekly for a selection of stories, songs, crafts, or a short movie. Activities vary by branch.

Villa Parke Community Center Branch - Tuesdays, 10:30 AM till 11:30 AM

San Rafael Branch - Wednesdays, 11:00 AM till 11:30 AM

Lamanda Park Branch - Thursdays, 10:30 AM till 11:00 AM

Hill Avenue Branch - Saturdays, 10:30 AM till 11:00 AM

Toddler Playtime

Kids ages 2-5 can come to play, color, listen to music and make new friends at the Villa Parke Community Center Branch on Fridays, from 10:30 AM till 12:00 PM.

ASL Storytime

Kids ages 3-5 can join the San Rafael Branch librarians for a fun storytime featuring some American Sign Language signs to learn on select Thursdays from 10:30 AM till 11:00 AM.

January: 6 and 20

February: 3 and 17

Family Films

Villa Parke Community Center Branch hosts a family movie for you on Thursdays, from 3:30 PM till 5:30 PM. Please contact the branch at 626-744-6510 for the movie title. And this is a BYOS (bring your own snacks) event.

Video Game Club

Your Teen (age 14-19) can stop into the Hastings Branch Library Meeting Room on Thursdays, from 4:00 PM till 6:00 PM, for some gaming fun on the Nintendo Switch. They can make new friends and learn fair play every week. No registration is required. Must play well with others.

Crafting with Tish & Tosh

Join the Pasadena Library online for some all-ages crafting fun. You'll learn new crafts all year round. The crafting fun happens on every-other Monday on Instagram Live from 3:00 PM till 3:30 PM.

Book Talk

The Monrovia Library staff encourages a love of stories among young readers by providing engaging summaries of some of their favorite books on the library's YouTube channel. Great for kids five and younger, the series covers both picture and chapter books.

Picture books: January 8 and February 15

Chapter books: January 22 and February 19

Storytime

You and your little ones (ages 0-5) can join the Monrovia librarians every Saturday at 10:00 AM as they lead you through sharing a story, a little music, and movement, and all-around fun to get your kids dancing and singing.