49 January Quotes for Kids: Winter Joy & Fresh Starts
The air is crisp, the calendar is fresh, and the holidays are slowly fading into memory. There is a quiet magic to the first month of the year-a clean slate feeling that isn’t just for adults making resolutions. Children feel it, too. They sense the shift from the chaotic excitement of December to the calm, blank page of the New Year. Finding the right January quotes for kids can help frame this moment, turning a cold winter month into a season of warmth, growth, and imagination.
As parents and teachers, we often struggle to find words that bridge the gap between “fun” and “meaningful.” You want something that sparks conversation at the breakfast table or sets a positive tone in the classroom without sounding like a lecture. This list does the heavy lifting for you. We have curated 49 sayings, segmented by theme and age, each paired with a quick activity or discussion prompt to make the words stick.
Whether you need a morning affirmation or a cozy bedtime thought, these lines will help you ring in the year with intention.
New Beginnings: Sparking Hope & Fresh Starts
The start of the year is the perfect time to talk about second chances and trying new things. These January quotes for kids focus on the excitement of turning the page.
For Preschoolers (Ages 3–5)
Simple concepts for little minds.
1. “The beginning is always today.” – Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley
- Try this: High-five your child first thing in the morning and shout, “Today!”
2. “Treat every day like it’s a new year, because it is.” – Temitope Ibrahim
- Try this: Ask them, “If today is a brand new year, what special game should we play?”
3. “New month, new intentions, new goals, new love, new light, and new beginnings.” – April Mae Monterrosa
- Try this: Have them count on their fingers five “new” things they see in the room.
4. “I love beginnings. If I were in charge of calendars, every day would be January 1.” – Jerry Spinelli
- Try this: Draw a pretend calendar together where every square is colorful and bright.
For Early Elementary (Ages 6–8)
Building confidence to step forward.
5. “Every man should be born again on the first day of January. Start with a fresh page.” – Henry Ward Beecher
- Try this: Give them a literal blank sheet of paper and ask, “What is the first thing you want to draw this year?”
6. “It’s a great month to reflect on the past year – and get motivated for the next!” – Unknown
- Try this: Share one favorite memory from last year and one hope for this one.
7. “Let this January be the beginning of all that you hope for.” – Unknown
- Try this: Create a “Hope Jar” where they can drop in written wishes for the month.
8. “January is for dreamers-the ones who believe anything is possible in the year ahead.” – Unknown
- Try this: Ask them to describe their biggest, wildest dream for 2024.
For Tweens (Ages 9–12)
Encouraging ownership and reflection.
9. “January reminds us that we have 12 new chapters to fill. Make the most of each one.” – Unknown
- Try this: Use this as a journal prompt: “If January is Chapter One, what is the title?”
10. “We spend January 1st walking through our lives, room by room, drawing up a list of work to be done.” – Josiyah Martin
- Try this: Discuss one “room” (area of life, like school or sports) they want to improve.
Winter Wonder: Cozy & Playful Lines
Once the festive lights come down, we are left with the serene beauty of winter. Use these lines to celebrate the snow and the cold, making the transition from holiday excitement to January peace a little easier. You can also find more seasonal inspiration in our collection of quotes for a winter wonderland.
11. “To appreciate the beauty of a snowflake it is necessary to stand out in the cold.” – Aristotle
- Try this: Go outside for one minute to feel the cold, then run back inside to get warm.
12. “January brings the snow, makes our feet and fingers glow.” – Sara Coleridge
- Try this: A perfect rhyme to recite while putting on mittens and boots.
13. “The first snow is like the first love. Do you remember your first snow?” – Lara Biyuts
- Try this: Look at old photos of your child playing in the snow as a baby.
14. “A snowball in the face is surely the perfect beginning to a lasting friendship.” – Markus Zusak
- Try this: Have an indoor “snowball fight” using balled-up socks.
15. “One of the very best reasons for having children is to be reminded of the incomparable joys of a snow day.” – Susan Orlean
- Try this: Plan a “dream snow day” schedule-hot cocoa required.
16. “It snowed last year too: I made a snowman and my brother knocked it down and I knocked my brother down and then we had tea.” – Dylan Thomas
- Try this: Act out this funny scene with stuffed animals.
17. “Snow brings a special quality with it – the power to stop life as you know it dead in its tracks.” – Nancy Hatch Woodward
- Try this: Play “Freeze Dance”-when the music stops, everyone freezes like a snowman.
18. “My old grandmother always used to say, Summer friends will melt away like summer snows, but winter friends are friends forever.” – George R.R. Martin
- Try this: Make a card for a “winter friend” they haven’t seen over the break.
19. “Winter is the time of promise because there is so little to do – or because you can now and then permit yourself the luxury of thinking so.” – Stanley Crawford
- Try this: Spend ten minutes doing absolutely nothing but resting together.
20. “Scarves, mittens, and hats are a great way to express your personality in the cold weather.” – Brad Goreski
- Try this: Have a “winter fashion show” in the living room with the wackiest combinations.
Motivation & Growth: Brave Steps Forward
Coming off the break, getting back into a routine is tough. These quotes serve as gentle nudges toward resilience and effort.
21. “Believe you can and you’re halfway there.” – Theodore Roosevelt
- Try this: Write “I Can” on a sticky note and put it on their bathroom mirror.
22. “It always seems impossible until it’s done.” – Nelson Mandela
- Try this: Use this when they are stuck on a hard math problem or a messy room cleanup.
23. “The magic in new beginnings is truly the most powerful of them all.” – Josiyah Martin
- Try this: Ask, “What is your superpower for this new beginning?”
24. “Every day is a new beginning, but there’s something especially magical about January.” – Unknown
- Try this: Go for a “magic walk” and look for things that have changed since December.
25. “Just as winter gives way to spring, January is the first step toward the year’s endless possibilities.” – Unknown
- Try this: Plant a seed in a small indoor pot to watch growth happen slowly.
26. “Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.” – Arthur Ashe
- Try this: A great mantra for when they feel overwhelmed by a big project.
27. “New year-new verse, a new chapter, or just the same old story? Ultimately we write it. The choice is ours.” – Unknown
- Try this: Have them write the first sentence of their “story” for the year.
28. “We spend January 1st walking through our lives, room by room, drawing up a list of work to be done.” – Josiyah Martin
- Try this: Make a “Fun To-Do List” that includes things like “eat pizza” and “read comics.”
29. “January: When all the Christmas cookies finally disappear… and so do my New Year’s resolutions.” – Unknown
- Try this: If you need a laugh, check out our funny quotes for kids to keep the mood light.
30. “I like starting projects in January. That’s the best time to start something.” – April Mae Monterrosa
- Try this: Pick one family hobby to start this month, like puzzles or hiking.
Play & Imagination: Fun Creative Sparks
January can feel long and dark, but imagination lights it up. These quotes celebrate the fun side of the season.
31. “Little January is always full of fun.” – Winifred C. Marshall
- Try this: Challenge them to find three things in the house that start with “J” for January.
32. “I bring you love and lots of cheer, and work and friends for all the year.” – Annette Wynne
- Try this: Make a “Cheer Chain” out of paper strips, writing a happy thought on each link.
33. “Imagine if fire extinguishers were full of snow. Imagine the fun we could have.” – Mark Twain
- Try this: Draw a picture of what a “snow extinguisher” would look like.
34. “Snowmen teach us that melting doesn’t mean the end of fun – it means stories to tell next winter.” – Unknown
- Try this: Tell a story from the perspective of a snowman who travels the world as water.
35. “A January day is a little story written in cold and light – read it with mittens on.” – Unknown
- Try this: Sit by a window and “read” the clouds or the trees.
36. “One of the best parts of January is that every snowflake is a tiny surprise.” – Unknown
- Try this: Cut out paper snowflakes; remind them that no two should look alike.
37. “January’s gray skies are just a soft blanket waiting for imagination to build a bright fort.” – Unknown
- Try this: Actually build a blanket fort. It’s the ultimate January activity.
38. “Playing in the cold is instant storytelling: snow castles, brave explorers, and warm cocoa endings.” – Unknown
- Try this: Make hot cocoa and tell a story about an explorer in the Arctic.
39. “It snowed last year too… and then we had tea.” – Dylan Thomas (adapted)
- Try this: Host a pretend tea party for their toys to warm them up.
40. “I love beginnings. If I were in charge of calendars, every day would be January 1.” – Jerry Spinelli
- Try this: If today was the first day of the year again, what breakfast would they choose?
Gentle Wisdom: Kindness & Calm
After the rush of December, children (and adults) need permission to slow down. If you are missing the holiday spirit, our Christmas children quotes offer a nice bridge, but these lines focus specifically on winter rest.
41. “No winter lasts forever; no spring skips its turn.” – Hal Borland
- Try this: Remind them that tough days, like winter, always pass.
42. “I pray this winter be gentle and kind – a season of rest from the wheel of the mind.” – John Geddes
- Try this: Practice “quiet time” for 5 minutes with lights dimmed.
43. “In the depth of winter, I finally learned that there was in me an invincible summer.” – Albert Camus
- Try this: Ask, “What makes you feel warm and happy inside even when it’s cold outside?”
44. “The wind of the early quiet merges slowly now with a thousand rolling wheels.” – Edwin Morgan
- Try this: Listen to the wind outside. Is it a loud roar or a quiet whisper?
45. “It is deep January. The sky is hard. The stalks are firmly rooted in ice.” – Unknown
- Try this: Talk about how roots stay strong underground even when we can’t see them.
46. “Feeling a little blue in January is normal.” – Marilu Henner
- Try this: Validate their feelings. It is okay to be tired or a little sad after the holidays.
47. “Winter forms our character and brings out our best.” – Tom Allen
- Try this: Discuss a time they did something difficult and how it made them stronger.
48. “Let January be a gentle teacher: slow down, notice, and plan kindly.” – Unknown
- Try this: Plan one act of kindness for a neighbor or friend this week.
49. “Small, steady steps in January make mountains easier to climb later.” – Unknown
- Try this: Pick one small habit, like brushing teeth or making the bed, and mark it on a chart.
FAQ: Using These Quotes Effectively
Q: How can I use these quotes in a classroom setting?
A: Write one quote on the board each morning as a “Thought of the Day.” Ask students to spend two minutes journaling about what the quote means to them or how they can apply it before the bell rings.
Q: Are these quotes suitable for children with anxiety?
A: Yes, specifically the quotes in the “Gentle Wisdom” section. Lines about winter passing and fresh starts can be very reassuring for children who feel overwhelmed by the post-holiday transition.
Q: How do I explain abstract metaphors (like “invincible summer”) to young kids?
A: Relate it to their body or feelings. For “invincible summer,” explain that they have a happy, strong light inside their heart that stays bright even when things outside are dark or difficult.
Q: Can I put these on a letter board?
A: Absolutely. Short lines like “The beginning is always today” or “No winter lasts forever” fit perfectly on standard letter boards and serve as great visual reminders for the whole family.
A Fresh Page for the Whole Family
These 49 january quotes for kids are more than just words-they are tools to help navigate the quiet, chilly days of the new year. Whether you use them to spark a dinner conversation, inspire a journal entry, or simply bring a smile during a gray afternoon, they remind us that January is a time of beautiful potential.
Take a moment to choose your favorite from the list and share it with your child today. It might just be the spark they need to start their year with joy.