Karen Stanton, Active Families Advisor Sport Bay of Plenty

With the introduction of another New Year, no doubt many people will be looking to make resolutions for 2014 with a view to changing some unhealthy habits or toward setting a challenge for something possibbly on their ‘to do' list.

New Year resolutions don't need to be huge events, like running a marathon or going bungee jumping; small sustainable changes can have just as big an impact on health or family memories.

How about setting some family-based New Year resolutions as well as ones for yourself. Here are some suggestions you might like to try.

• Make one night a week family game night – let everyone have turns choosing what game should be played that week, like everyone outside on the lawn playing whatever. Some suggestions are: soccer, touch, softball, running races, hide and seek, 123 home, tiggy, stuck in the mud, or get the children to teach you whatever game is happening at the moment at school. Why not make family game night at the beach or local park sometimes for a bit of variety.
• Exchange takeaway night for children's cooking night – adults do the dishes.
• Try TV-free days – or set goals around achieving a set amount of time for television watching (or screen time, including computers, Xbox, etc). It is suggested children shouldn't have more than two hours screen-time per day.
• Instead of buying presents why not give vouchers for your spending time with family members doing something active and fun. For example, give a voucher for a game of ‘peg wrestle'. Attach pegs to your clothing, stand facing your partner. Try to get the pegs off each other as fast as you can. Or put pegs on everyone and run around for a certain period of time and see who can collect the most pegs. Or play tag with wet sponges.
• Exchange sugary drinks (fizzy, cordial, sports drinks), for good old yummy water.
• When buying presents choose to buy ‘active' presents, a ball, bat, hula hoop, balloon, skipping rope, scooter, skateboard, boogie board, juggling balls, yo-yo or a bike. These are just a few examples of what's on offer.

Whatever resolutions you choose to make – if they are based around children and activity – keep them fun.