It’s that time of year again! As we wrap up 2025, I’m already starting to think about ways to keep my students engaged and learning when we come back after winter break. And what better way to kick off the new year than with a fun craft that’s meaningful and easy to adapt for all of our students? If you’re like me, you’re always looking for activities that check those boxes!
Today, I want to share a New Year’s 2026 craft idea that’s been a big hit in my classroom, especially for my non-speakers and students with more severe disabilities. It’s simple, engaging, and targets functional skills, which is always a win in my book. And, of course, it ties into the “ALL MEANS ALL” philosophy we live by over here—because every student deserves the chance to participate, no matter their ability.
Why Do a New Year’s Craft?
Crafts are such a fun way to break up the routine, especially when you’re coming back from a long break and need something to grab your students’ attention. But what I love most about this particular New Year’s craft is that it can be adapted to fit our students’ unique needs. It’s not just about making something cute—it’s about giving them a chance to think about their own goals and to practice life skills in a way that’s meaningful to them.
GRAB THE NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS CRAFT HERE!
I know many of us are teaching students who have complex communication needs, so finding ways for them to participate in discussions and activities can be a challenge. But with this simple craft, you can easily use AAC devices, visuals, or even simple yes/no choices to help students come up with their own New Year’s resolutions.
How empowering is that?!
The 2026 New Year’s Resolutions Craft
Now, let me tell you about the craft itself!
What I love about this resource is how easy it is to adapt for each student. It comes with pre-made templates and visuals, which are perfect for our students who need that extra support. And if your students need help expressing their resolutions, you can offer them choices or use AAC devices to help them share their thoughts.
Even better, this craft is a fantastic way to practice fine motor skills!
Cutting, pasting, and coloring all provide opportunities for our students to work on their coordination. For students who need more support, you can always have materials pre-cut or use adapted scissors, so everyone can participate in a way that works for them.
Making It Work in Your Classroom
Here’s how I’ve been using this New Year’s Resolution Craft in my own classroom, and some ideas you can try:
- Adapt for Communication Needs: Like I mentioned earlier, this craft is perfect for using with AAC devices. I help my non-speaking students by offering them choices for their resolutions. You can even use communication boards or sentence starters to help them get involved in the conversation about goals.
- Functional Skills Focus: One of the best parts of this activity is that it ties right into functional skills. You can guide your students to think about goals that are meaningful and achievable for them. Whether it’s practicing self-care, improving communication with their peers, or learning a new life skill, this craft makes goal-setting a fun and accessible process.
- Visual Supports: The craft comes with awesome visual supports, which are a must for our students with severe disabilities. I love using visuals to help students understand each step of the craft, giving them more independence while still providing the structure they need.
- Fine Motor Practice: Crafts are such a great way to sneak in fine motor practice without it feeling like “work.” Cutting and pasting are a big part of this activity, but you can always adapt the materials to fit your students’ needs. I pre-cut for some of my students, while others work on using their adaptive scissors. Either way, everyone gets to participate!
Encouraging Student Growth in the New Year
This craft isn’t just about creating something cute for the bulletin board (although that’s always a bonus!). It’s about helping our students reflect on the past year and set simple, achievable goals for the new one. And that’s something we all strive for in our classrooms, right?
For students with severe disabilities, resolutions might look different, but they’re no less important. It could be something like using their AAC device to greet a friend, cleaning up their workspace independently, or practicing a specific life skill. The beauty of this activity is that it’s personalized for each student, meeting them where they are while challenging them to grow.
Here’s to a successful and happy New Year with your students! Let’s make 2026 the best year yet!