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Sunday, February 16, 2025 01:16
Editor’s Note Happy New Year 2024: New Year Resolutions for Students, Children & Youth Together is Better Sir Syed Ahmad Khan Revolution, Students & Studies: Harnessing AI, Social Media & E-Learning Population, Environment, Water: Tackling the Triple Threat Muslims and their Festive Delights “Adventures of the Crescent” : The Wonders of Islamic World Hazrat Umar (RA) A Timeless Role Model Childhood under Siege in IIOJK Broken Crayons and Shattered Dreams Rising from the Ashes Kashmir’s History in Brief Kashmir Banay Ga Pakistan A Kashmiri Mother’s Letter to Her Soncc Kashmir: Plight of Children Beginning A New Best Way to Prepare for Exams Almonds: The Nutrient-Rich Treasure Protecting the Environment Save Water, Save Life Read to Lead Pain of Palestinian Kids A Child’s Cry The Magic in New Beginnings! New Year, New You Welcome 2025! New Year’s Resolution A Yearof Hope Helping the Poor in Winter My Role Model: My Grandad The Famous Banu Musa Brothers ‘Magic School AI’ Friendships Online The Magical Paintbrush How to Save Humans and Animals Turning Space into Trash Through the Haze TILAWAT AND NAMAZ -- A GUIDING FORCE Shining Stars Hope -- The Two Sides of Light The Long Unnoticed Kashmir Struggle: The Plight of Kashmiri Children and Youth The Story of Kashmir Day Brave Girls of Kashmir Saving Kids from Smog:Understanding the Hazards of Pollution Rose Plant’s Regret Sabit bin Qura -- The Brilliant Mind of Golden Age Arfa Karim -- A Force of Nature The Amazing Science of Prisms FACTS ABOUT THE SPEED OF LIGHT The Habit of Judging Others Walking Grapes Blood of the Brave Shining Stars
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Hilal Kids English

New Year’s Resolution

January 2025

As the winter night deepened, Ali, Sara, Raza, and Meera were cozy in their Nani’s room, wrapped in soft blankets. Their annual tradition of spending New Year’s evening together with their grandmother had been special. The warmth of the room, combined with the sweet aroma of freshly baked cookies, made them feel amazing. Outside, the stars glistened against the clear cold sky, while inside, they were surrounded by warmth, laughter, and a sense of excitement for the New Year.



The cousins had their own quirks that always made these gatherings memorable. Ali was the techie – forever glued to his phone, snapping pictures of everyone and sharing them online. Sara, the foodie, was always sneaking into the kitchen for just one more cookie. Raza, the gamer, had brought his portable console and was trying to beat his high score while the others laughed at his intense focus. Meera, the artist, sketched quietly in her notebook, capturing little moments from their evening together.
As midnight approached, they crowded around the clock, eagerly counting down. When it struck 12, they erupted into cheers, hugging each other and exchanging hopeful wishes for the New Year. But as the excitement settled, the conversation turned to resolutions. They realized something strange – every year, they set new goals, but none of them ever managed to keep their resolutions for long!
“Remember last year when we all said we’d exercise every day?” Ali chuckled. “I lasted about a week before I forgot all about it.”
“Same here,” Meera said, grinning. “I was going to read more books, but I got so caught up watching TV shows and scrolling on my phone that I didn’t even finish one book!”
Sara sighed, “I think I promised to stop eating junk food last year, but then I discovered those new chocolate cookies, and, well... you know how that went.”
Raza joined in, saying, “And I promised myself I’d study harder, but somehow, video games kept me away from my books.” 
They all burst into laughter, realizing how quickly they’d fallen back into their old habits. 
“But why does this keep happening to us?” Ali asked, scratching his head. “It’s like we keep making promises that we can’t keep.”
Meera nodded thoughtfully. “Maybe we’re focusing too much on starting new habits without thinking about what’s stopping us in the first place.”
Sara’s eyes lit up. “You mean, maybe we should start by breaking our bad habits first?”
The idea clicked with everyone, and they decided that before setting new resolutions, they would each pick one bad habit to kick off this year. They sat in a circle, ready to make their confessions.
It’s Ali’s turn first; he took a deep breath. “I’m going to cut down on my screen time, especially my habit of scrolling endlessly on social media. I didn’t realize it at first, but I’ve started noticing that I waste hours just scrolling through videos and pictures. It’s made me lose track of time, and I barely have any energy left to do other things.”
Meera added, “Plus, all that scrolling messes up our sleep, right? I’ve read that the blue light from our screens makes it hard to fall asleep at night.”
Ali nodded, feeling encouraged. “Exactly! This year, I’m going to set limits on my screen time so I have more time for other activities and get better sleep.”
“Now it’s your turn Sara”, said Ali. 
Sara bit her lip, feeling a little embarrassed. “Okay, my habit is eating too much junk food. I know it’s delicious, but I’ve started feeling sluggish and tired all the time. I can’t even concentrate on my homework properly.”
Raza chimed in, “Our teacher told us that junk food has too much sugar and oil, which gives us quick energy but makes us feel tired after a while. Plus, it’s not good for our health in the long run.”
Sara agreed, nodding enthusiastically. “So, this year, I’m going to make an effort to eat more fruits and veggies. I’ll allow myself a treat now and then, but I’ll try to keep it balanced. I want to feel more energetic and focused!”
“Your turn Raza”, Sara saw him biting his lips.
Raza took a deep breath. “Alright, my bad habit is spending way too much time on video games. I love playing, but I’ve started skipping my homework just to play ‘one more level,’ and before I know it, the whole evening is gone. It’s even started affecting my grades and last year I couldn’t complete my resolution just because of this game addiction”
Ali added, “I get it, Raza. Addiction of anything is really bad. I read that playing too many video games can make it hard to concentrate on other things, and it can even make us feel restless or anxious.”
Raza nodded. “That’s true. So this year, I’m going to set a timer when I play games. I’ll give myself one hour a day and then put the controller down. That way, I can still enjoy gaming without it taking over my life.” Meera looked at her friends and admitted, “Okay let me confess, I’m addicted to watching TV shows. I tell myself I’ll only watch one episode, but then it turns into a marathon, and I end up watching three or four! It’s been taking away time I could be spending on other hobbies, like reading or drawing, which I actually love.”
Sara added, “I know what you mean! Watching too much TV can make us feel lazy and sometimes even unmotivated to do anything else. It also happens with me.”
Meera nodded with determination. “So, I’m going to limit myself to one episode a night, and I’ll spend more time doing the things I love, like drawing and reading.”
“So, are we ready to stick to our goals?” Ali asked, holding up his hand.
“Absolutely!” they all cheered, giving each other a high-five. With each of them choosing one habit to work on, they all felt a little nervous but mostly excited. For the first time, they had a clear and manageable plan to improve themselves. Over the next few months, they kept encouraging each other, sharing their progress, and even celebrating small victories together. Ali’s grades improved as he stayed away from his phone. Sara felt more energetic and focused without all the junk food. Raza’s concentration and grades improved with his limited gaming, and Meera discovered new books and completed a beautiful drawing collection. 
By breaking their bad habits, they found it easier to keep their new resolutions – and for the first time, they were closer than ever to achieving their goals. So which bad habit of yours you are going to kick off this year from your life?