The end of the year is the perfect time to reflect, celebrate, and dream about what’s to come. One of our family’s favorite traditions is creating year-in-review pages with our kids. These pages combine creativity, self-expression, and goal-setting, allowing children to capture their favorite memories from the past year and think ahead to the next. My kids especially love drawing a picture of themselves, writing down their favorites, and setting goals in different categories. We hang the pages on the wall, where they not only serve as a colorful keepsake but also as a checklist to mark off goals as they have accomplished. We also enjoy making a page of a key picture for each month to reflect on the year. 

Making the Year-in-Review Pages

To get started, give each child a printed page (below) or make your own divided into four main sections:

1. Self-Portrait and Favorite Things

Encourage your kids to draw a picture of themselves. This can be a simple sketch or a colorful, detailed portrait. Or print out a photo.

2. Favorites from the Year

Alongside the drawing, have them list some of their favorite things from the past year—favorite book, favorite food, favorite book, favorite movie, dream job, favorite subject, favorite place, favorite sport, a special memory, or accomplishment.

3. Memory Highlights from the Year  

   Dedicate a section to specific categories, such as:

• Favorite trip or outing
• Favorite Adventures or Activities
• Favorite Sports or Extras Done
• Something new they tried this year

4. Goals for the New Year

Break upcoming goals into simple categories to make them approachable and fun: Adventure Goals, Creative Goals, Kindness Goals, Spiritual Goals, Social Goals, Physical Goals, and Intellectual/Learning Goals:

Intellectual/ Learning Goals:

• Read 20 new books – Explore a mix of stories, picture books, and beginner chapter books. Or read 100 books. 
• Learn 20 new vocabulary words – Keep a word journal to write down and illustrate each new word.
• Practice writing a short story each month – Focus on creative ideas and clear sentences.
• Memorize the multiplication tables up to 12 – Use fun games or flashcards to make it engaging.
• Learn to count money and make simple change – Practice with play money or during real shopping trips.
• Complete a small science experiment every month – Document with photos or drawings.
• Improve handwriting – Spend 10 minutes a day practicing neat and careful letters.
• Learn to tell time on an analog clock – Practice reading hours and minutes without digital help.
• Build a new skill with technology – For example, learn how to type or create a simple slideshow.
• Start a nature journal – Record observations of plants, animals, or the weather once a week.
• Learn to ride a bike without training wheels.
• Read a New Book Each Month – Explore different genres like adventure, mystery, or science fiction.
• Learn a New Word Each Week – Write it in a notebook and use it in sentences to grow your vocabulary.
• Complete a Puzzle or Brain Game Weekly – Try crosswords, Sudoku, jigsaw puzzles, or riddles.
• Explore a New Subject of Interest – Pick a topic like dinosaurs, space, or ocean life and learn three new facts.
• Visit a Library or Museum – Check out interesting books or exhibits to expand your knowledge.
• Start a Simple Science Experiment – Try fun, safe experiments at home to spark curiosity.
• Write a Short Story or Journal Entry Weekly – Practice creative thinking and writing skills.
• Learn a Fun Skill Online or in Class – Such as drawing, coding, or basic cooking.
• Memorize and Recite a Poem or Song – Strengthen memory and public speaking confidence.
• Track Your Learning Progress – Keep a notebook of what you read, learn, or create throughout the year.
• Learn a new language 
• Learn all your math facts or sight words

Social Goals:

• Make a New Friend – Introduce yourself to someone new at school or in your neighborhood.
• Join a Group Activity or Club – Participate in a team sport, hobby club, or after-school program.
• Invite Someone to Play or Hang Out – Include someone who might be shy or often left out.
• Practice Good Manners – Say “please,” “thank you,” and “excuse me” in daily interactions.
• Learn to Listen – Focus on listening carefully when friends, teachers, or family are speaking.
• Work on Sharing and Taking Turns – Practice patience during games, activities, or playtime.
• Offer Help to a Classmate – Assist with homework or projects to build teamwork skills.
• Participate in a Group Project – Collaborate with others to create something together.
• Give Genuine Compliments – Say something kind to brighten a friend’s day.
• Resolve Conflicts Peacefully – Learn to talk through problems calmly and respectfully.
• Go to a new place. Or your favorite theme park.
• Learn to cook a new dish. 
• Explore a new hiking trail with family or friends.
• Visit a nature reserve or national park you’ve never been to.
• Camp overnight in the backyard or at a campsite.
• Join a local scavenger hunt or create your own with friends.
• Take a day trip to a nearby city or landmark.
• Go stargazing and learn to identify a new constellation.
• Fly a kite on a windy day at the park or beach.
• Go to a new park
• Go to the beach

Physical Goals:

• Try a New Sport or Activity – Sign up for soccer, basketball, gymnastics, or a martial arts class.
• Walk or Bike to School Once a Week – If it’s safe, add this into your routine for more movement.
• Learn a Fun Dance Routine – Pick a favorite song and practice until you know the moves by heart.
• Practice a Physical Skill Daily – Jump rope, hula hoop, or balance on one foot for a few minutes.
• Spend 30 Minutes Outdoors Each Day – Play tag, ride a scooter, or goon a nature walk.
• Master a Playground Challenge – Conquer the monkey bars, climbing wall, or a balance beam.
• Stretch or Do a Mini Workout in the Morning – Start the day with 5–10 minutes of exercise.
• Improve Your Swimming Skills – Take a swim lesson or practice new strokes at the pool.
• Participate in a Family Fitness Activity – Go hiking, rollerblading, or ice skating together.
• Set a Fun Fitness Goal – Try 20 jumping jacks in a row or run a short kids’ fun run by year’s end.
• Go on a bike ride through a scenic area in your town.
• Try swimming in a lake or ocean for the first time.
• Try a new outdoor activity, like paddleboarding or rock climbing.
• Set a goal in your sport – getting the form correct, beat your time, win a tournament, etc

Creative Goals:

• Complete a craft project using recycled materials.
• Write and illustrate your own short story or comic book.
• Paint or draw a picture inspired by your favorite season.
• Create a homemade board game and play it with family.
• Learn a simple song on a new musical instrument.
• Build a small model or sculpture out of clay or LEGO.
• Start a nature journal with drawings and observations.
• Record a fun video or stop-motion animation with toys.
• Cook or bake a new recipe with a parent or sibling.
• Design a holiday card or poster for a special occasion.
• Write a short story

Kindness Goals: 

• Help a neighbor
• Donate toys to charity
• Make a homemade card for a family member or friend to brighten their day.
• Donate gently used toys, books, or clothes to a local charity.
• Help a neighbor with small chores, like raking leaves or shoveling snow.
• Compliment three people each week to spread positivity.
• Share a snack or lunch with a classmate who forgot theirs.
• Write a thank-you note for a teacher, coach, or mentor.
• Plant flowers or a tree in your yard or community to make the area more beautiful.
• Include someone new in your playgroup or activity at school.
• Collect food items for a local food bank with your family.
• Spend quality time reading to a younger sibling or helping them with homework.

Spiritual Goals:

• Start a Gratitude Journal – Write down one thing each day that you are thankful for. 
• Practice Mindful Moments – Spend five minutes each day quietly reflecting or meditating.
• Learn a Short Prayer or Affirmation – Recite it each morning to start the day positively.
• Read or Listen to a Story with a Moral Lesson – Reflect on the lesson learned with a parent or sibling.
• Spend Time in Nature – Notice and appreciate the beauty of the world around you.
• Help Someone in Need – Practice compassion and kindness as a way of spiritual growth.
• Create a Kindness Jar – Add a note each time you do something kind or see kindness in others.
• Participate in Family or Community Services – Attend spiritual or cultural events to connect with your values.
• Practice Deep Breathing or Relaxation – Learn to calm your mind and body when you feel stressed.
• Reflect on Your Day Before Bed – Think about what went well and how you can do better tomorrow.
• Do some family history. 
• Journal or scrapbook.

Once finished, let your kids decorate the page with stickers, doodles, or borders. Display the pages on a wall or bulletin board where they can see them regularly. My kids love checking off goals throughout the year, and it’s a wonderful visual reminder of progress and fun yet to come. Also they could make a page and pick out their favorite photo per month to reflect on the year.

Creating year-in-review pages is a simple, meaningful family tradition that encourages reflection, creativity, and intentional goal-setting. Kids not only get the joy of sharing their favorite memories but also the excitement of planning for the year ahead. By hanging the pages where they can be seen and celebrated, you give your children a sense of pride and motivation to achieve the goals they set for themselves. At the end of the next year, you’ll have a beautiful collection of memories to look back on—and a tradition worth repeating.

Year in Review: