Family challenges for Thanksgiving, the holidays and New Year
Three short challenges to get the whole family pulling in the same direction this season. Each one is a few habits, a points goal and a reward your kids actually want, with a free chart to print. Do them on paper or in the Compass app.
Thankful Before Thanksgiving
Three weeks of small thank-yous, one family goal. Earn a family reward in time for Thanksgiving dinner.
How it works
- Pick a family reward together, something everyone shares.
- Add two or three gratitude habits to your chart, or to each kid's card in Compass.
- Check the days together each evening. Gratitude grows when it's noticed.
Habits to try
| Habit | Points |
|---|---|
| Said thank you without a reminder | +1 |
| Helped without being asked | +2 |
| Shared one thing they're grateful for at dinner | +1 |
| Helped prepare a family meal | +2 |
Reward ideas
Choosing the Thanksgiving dessert, picking the family movie for the long weekend, a later bedtime on Thanksgiving night, or a special breakfast the morning after.
Earn It by the Holidays
A four-week family goal before the holidays. Pick a reward with your kids, agree on the habits that earn it, and watch the jar fill until the big day.
How it works
- Let each kid choose one thing they really want for the holidays, within your budget.
- Agree on the habits that earn it, and price the goal at about four good weeks of points.
- Check the week together every Sunday. Compass sums it up for you.
Habits to try
| Habit | Points |
|---|---|
| Homework done without a reminder | +2 |
| Kept a commitment you made | +3 |
| Kind to brothers and sisters | +2 |
| Phone away at the agreed time | +2 |
Reward ideas
A gift they choose, concert or game tickets, a holiday outing with a parent, or picking the menu for one holiday dinner. (See how many points a reward should cost.)
New Year Family Goals
Start the year with one goal your teen wants. Turn resolutions into points: choose a goal together, pick three habits that earn it, and check the days all January.
How it works
- Sit down together on New Year's Day and choose one goal for January.
- Pick three habits that move toward it. Fewer habits, followed every day, beat a long list.
- Review on the last Sunday of January and set the next goal.
Habits to try
| Habit | Points |
|---|---|
| Read for 20–30 minutes | +1 |
| Exercise or sports practice | +2 |
| Stayed within screen-time limit | +1 |
| Room tidy, bed made | +1 |
Reward ideas
A new book series, a day out of their choice, gear for a sport or hobby they started in January, or a bigger goal that carries on into February. (Screens are a common January goal: see screen time rules for teens.)