Teaching our children about goals.
It got me thinking about how I set my goals. What I do (or don’t do) to help me achieve my goals. And what I do (or don’t do) that contributes to those times when I fail to follow through?
As a parent, this question takes on a new level of meaning for me… Obviously, we want our children to succeed at everything they do. So, how do we channel their abilities and guide them towards setting realistic goals, that they will follow through on? According to Forbes.com, 92% of people FAIL at achieving their New Year Resolutions. I wouldn’t want my children to fall into that category – if it can be helped, of course.
So let’s look at how we can help our children set realistic goals.
Acting as a guide
It’s important for us to realize that we are only there to help guide our children to set the goals that they themselves would like to achieve. It should be our child’s goal, not ours. We shouldn’t push/demand or nag the child. This is their goal to achieve. We should see ourselves as an assistant coach/cheerleader.
Determine the goal
Guiding our child to finding a goal that is both achievable and suitable to his/her personality/likes/dislikes/age/etc. will make achieving the goal more likely. Helping them figure out the different steps needed to reach their goal, and a suitable time frame to reach their goal, are all part of goal setting.
Set deadlines
It’s vital that our children have realistic deadlines when setting goals. Breaking it all down to smaller goals (within the larger dream), with realistic expectations of when those smaller goals should be achieved will be more sustainable than simply having one deadline (looming intimidatingly large on the horizon). Creating a calendar that our child can follow, and mark off once these small deadlines have been reached, creates a visual “map” of achievement, which encourages overall achievement.
Encouragement
As adults, we know all too well how hard it can be to reach our goals. We need to offer praise when goals are reached, and encouragement to stay committed when our children become despondent.
Make it Fun
No one likes to participate in something that has no enjoyment. Children especially need fun-filled activities to keep them interested and engaged.
Review & Reflect
Once the goal has been reached it won’t hurt to sit down and reflect on the positive and negative aspects of the road to reaching it. One can even look at how to approach future goals as well.
Goal setting can be fun and easy for children of any age, whether it’s a three-year-old needing to clean their room, homework that needs to be completed, or an older child dealing with a school project or sports commitment.
Here’s hoping that our children will learn how to set and execute achievable goals!
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Cool idea! I think this is great to start with elementary age kids – that way they get in the habit of making a goal and achieving it! Of course evaluation at the end is key. Great steps! #familyfun
Thanks for reading!! x
Some great ideas. Thank you #familyfun
Thanks for stopping by!
I’d really never considered the kids perspective on this at all I’ll definitely have to keep it in mind as my little gets older. I’d hate for him to fail unnecessarily. Thanks for linking up to #familyfun
Goal setting is definitely an important life lesson isn’t it!! :)
Ah this was really interesting. I wonder if mine are a little young for this to apply but I’m not so sure they are. It’s certainly good for thought hat I will take with me. Thanks for sharing at #familyfun xx
I try with my youngest. I mean, we don’t have conversations about what goal setting is, but we do encourage her to achieve things that might be a little more difficult. Hopefully this will encourage following through with future goals.
I never really considered setting goals for my daughter for the new year. Maybe it’s something I will think about for when she is a little older. For the moment I guess I will set them for her without her knowledge and give her encouragement to achieve them. #GlobalBlogging
That’s actually a fantastic idea!! Especially for our little ones. Thank you for reading. X
We are the example that our children follow. Great read. Thank you. #Globalblogging
Amen to that! x
I think a lot of parenting involves setting goals but it is how we communicate these that is important and I certainly agree that we should be a shining example. Thanks for linking to #eatsleepblogRT
Communication is the key! x
This is really good and i totally need to set a goal for my daughter to learn her bloody times tables!! #globalblogging
Haha! That sure is a difficult one! Good luck! xx Maybe a rap song? You Tube is great! :)
I think encouragement sprinkled with fun is a great idea. But deadlines are def. needed, too!
#globalblogging
Love the sprinkles. Makes it sounds magical :)
goal setting is easy, achieving them is hard! this is agreat post to help kids and adults! #eatsleepblogRT
Starting small and breaking it down! Thank you Brandi! x
forgot this #eatsleepblogRT
I love this. It didn’t dawn on me to do this with my kid. When she gets home, I’m on it =) #EatBogSleepRT
Wishing you both all the best! Looking forward to reading about achieved goals. :) xx
One of my daughters goals this year is to pass her driving test. I will be encouraging and give as much advice as possible but I definitely wont be sitting in the passenger seat while she’s learning! #globalblogging
Haha… I think with this one, I would encourage from “afar” as well… ?. GOOD LUCK to the both of you! X
I feel shamed by all the inspirational goal posts out there this week. I feel like I should be setting myself more goals. Maybe I’ll use these tips as a start point! #GlobalBlogging
If I am honest I haven’t set many goals myself. I need to get going on that! Practice what I preach! x
This a much more realistic approach to new year goals! Some great tips here! #globalblogging
Thank you!
Mine is a little young at the moment but I do think this is a great idea and definitely something I’d think about for the future!
Thanks for linking to #ablogginggoodtime
Thank you for reading! x
Very good idea. I think my four year old could do with some achievable goal setting for her reading! Thanks for the tips #GlobalBlogging
Wishing her all the best! It could be a fun goal to achieve! x
Such a good idea, making goals is always great, but no better time than the new year. I have so many goals for the year but I’m still lacking the motivation to get the ball moving! #GlobalBlogging
I hear you on that one! Making my goals smaller might help me achieve them too. x
Great tips! Deadlines do really help although my daughter has a very warped sense of time! haha
Don’t most kids.. Haha :) … Good luck ! x
What great tips, useful for everyone as well, not just kids. I think this is such a valuable lesson to teach our kids, and one that will help them so much as they grow x
#GlobalBlogging
Amen to that!
My eldest has been rather independent during the last year and has learnt enough words to be able to carry out little tasks. She likes putting things in the bin and getting out a spoon for her favourite yoghurt. I think as Mary Poppins would have us believe if fun can be found in setting and achieving goals then whatever age we are they’ll be all the more achievable. #globalblogging
Isn’t it adorable when they get so proud of themselves. My little one shouts out “I did it”… She gets to excited! Great to see them so motivated!
It’s definitely the week for goal setting! Good luck with yours! #globalblogging
Isn’t it just Rhian!
Some good ideas here for when they get older. Encouragement and making things fun is definitely key! #globalblogging
Thanks Hayley! x
See now I’m a marketing planner in my day job. So I LOVE to plan. I’m just not so good on the execution. My husband’s given me one task this year. Make stuff happen. Great tips to making sure I deliver on my one goal this year LOL #globalblogging
Oh man! I am a list maker, then I cross out and write it on another! Cheers to making stuff happen in 2017! x
Great tips! I need to employ them in my own goal-making. I’m not good with breaking down big (unachieveable) goals into smaller steps so I can maybe accomplish something. I think these tips are applicable to everyone!
#globalblogging
Thanks Jessica! All the best with breaking down those goals!
Great tips! Our goal for this year: only to stay safe and sane and be happy!
Happy New Year 2017 to you! #GlobalBlogging
– Emmi
That’s a fantastic goal Emmi! Happy 2017 to you and your family! x
Great practical advice. I’m going to try this but starting small … tidying their room, putting their washing in the laundry basket, hanging up their towels.
#globalblogging
That’s what I do with mine !! Now I don’t even have to ask. It’s become second nature – much to my relief :)
Setting achievable goals is the best way to go. Setting unreachable goals can only lead to disappointment x #GlobalBlogging
Amen to that! Thanks Kirsty! x
Aww these are great… everyones all about goal setting at the moment! I think it is so super important for goals to be achievable; I have seen so many of my friends and family low in a pit of disappointment when they cannot reach their goals and it is usually because their timescales are completely warped or the goals they have set are momentous and need to be far smaller steps towards a greater goal…
Love it. #globalblogging
100% agree. We get so downtrodden when we keep failing, but in all reality some of these goals we set, are way to big! Baby steps :) Thanks for reading! x
Really great ideas and exactly right goals and targets have to be achievable otherwise you have very disheartened children #globalblogging thanks for hosting glad you are back
Thanks Nige! It’s good to be back! :)
Readin this again i think i am going to have my kiddos start setting some goals for themselves now, just something small and achievable at first…but something they can work towards and feel great when they get it done! #globalblogging
Great idea! All the best! They get so excited when those little goals are achieved! :)
I am such an advocate for instilling a good set of morals and manners in my little one and I hope as he grows older I will be a good influence on him and he will learn from me. I just need to stop my potty mouth hahaha! #globalblogging
Oh most definitely! I need to stop eating chocolate :) haha!
What a great idea, I might sit down with mine and have a think about some goals for them. Thank you so much for joining us for #HappyDaysLinky x
my kids actually did some goal-setting at school last week and i was blown away. Certainly not something we did when I was growing up. Not sure how much use I’d be helping them achieve them though when I’m rubbish in this department myself! #globalblogging
This is a great post! Setting goals can certainly help children focus on what they need to do, and when they achieve it, it can be very motivating! I do set mine goals but I’ve never really considered how I do it so these tips are really useful. It’s silly that I didn’t think about it because I set goals at work constantly!
Thanks for linking up to #AnythingGoes
Janet
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