It’s the end of 2024 and the beginning of 2025. It’s time for new year resolutions, vision boards, and planning for the upcoming year. The start of the new year is the perfect time to assess what’s working and/or not working in order to make plans for improvement. It’s also a great opportunity to teach kids about goal-setting and the importance of working hard to achieve their goals.
Goals are important because they provide a measurable guide for improvement. Well-set goals allow people to focus their energies and make decisions with intention as they strive to meet their goals. Additionally, they can also create a sense of accomplishment and pride when the goals are met.
Here are some ways to help your children set and achieve their goals.
Keep it Simple
Good goals are attainable. Make sure your child selects a goal that is within their reach. It needs to be something they have to work towards without being impossible for them to accomplish. Goals do not have to be profound and life-changing to be important. Think about what your child struggles with or wants to improve and start there.
Be Specific
Being specific with goal setting is important. Break down big goals into manageable steps and create a progress ladder to identify the steps to success. Here are some questions to help guide your child:
- What is the goal and how will it be achieved?
- When will it be achieved? Is this a weekly, monthly, or yearly goal?
- Where will the actions for the goal take place? At school? At home?
- Who will need to help?
- Why is the goal important?
Let Your Child Choose
It can be tempting to choose your child’s goal for them, however, it is important to let your child choose their own goals according to their age and abilities. Start by being hands-on in guiding your child to a goal, but as they get older allow them to take more ownership and initiative. Talk with them about what works well for them, what doesn’t work, and how you can best support them with their goals and achievements.
Reward Effort
Sticking to a goal can be hard. The amount of work it may take to achieve a goal may be draining, especially if it’s a larger, long-term goal. Additionally, there are bound to be setbacks as success is not linear. As adults, most of us have the resilience needed to persevere and keep going despite the setbacks we may face. However, kids often need a little encouragement to stick with their goals. Reward them for the progress they make and help them to understand that setbacks are learning experiences, not failures.
Typically, we think of goal setting for adults, but getting your kids involved in goal setting is a great way to have them understand that their actions and decisions matter. To succeed they have to work with intention towards their goals. Setting goals can teach the importance of hard work, perseverance, and responsibility. Additionally, achieving goals can build self-confidence.
As always, Childwatch is here to help your kids reach their goals. Tools and features like the Child Daily Journal, Meal and Attendance Capture, and the Parent Portal provide parents and caregivers with the information needed to best support children and track progress. Here’s to a great year ahead!