By JAN McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
As people age, the magic of a new year often lacks the luster it once presented with high hopes for the new year ahead.
But children have not yet learned that most new years are just a continuation of the years past. They retain the wonder of flipping to a new calendar as a fresh start when practically anything can happen.
Children hanging out at the Wood County District Public Library and the Bowling Green Community Center earlier this week shared some of their purely fanciful and more practical wishes for 2026.
For example, Nora Titkemeier, 11, is hopeful that the 2025 trend of kids saying “6-7” disappears. Classmates at her school use the slang far too often, she said.
“It’s very annoying,” Nora said.
Nora is also hoping that 2026 is a better year for her family. “My great-grandma passed away,” which made 2025 a sad year, she said.
Two brothers paused their play with trains and trucks to offer their suggestions on how Bowling Green could become a better place in 2026. The list rattled off by Holton Harpel and Colton Frankfarther, both 8 years old, included new playgrounds, an even bigger library, and more art projects for kids.
Holton also said the world would be a better place if the library had a snack bar – with no Cheetos which would leave orange fingerprints everywhere, he added.
Playing on a computer in the children’s area of the library was 3-year-old Laura Barr. She pondered what would make 2026 a better year, then found some clues on the computer screen. “Trees,” she said pointing at the screen. “Happy monsters,” she added. And finally “nice tigers.”
Six-year-old Isla Cheney, looking at books with her younger siblings, went a little broader with her wishes for the new year.
“If all the people were happy, and kind to each other,” Isla said.
Out at the community center, Clara Hunter and June Schumacher were shooting some hoops in the kids’ game room on the last day of 2025. Their thoughts turned to helping others.
Clara said the world would be better in 2026 if people would pray more. “We could do a service where everybody prays to be healthy.”
June’s idea was more concrete, with “people donating food to children.”
On the basketball court, brothers Maddex Lulfs, 13, and Jude Lulfs, 11, said Bowling Green would be an even better place in 2026 if the city pool was bigger with more slides.
When asked about possible New Year’s resolutions for 2026, Maddex came up with a couple self-improvement ideas.
“I’m going to start working out,” he said. “I’m definitely going to start doing chores at home,” at least until going back to school after the Christmas break.
Jude agreed doing chores would be a resolution he might be able to keep – selecting the tasks of putting clean laundry away and washing dishes.
