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By Mary M. Frederick Start Slowly and Make The Process ApproachableYou want to be sure to start with something simple and reachable when it comes to goal setting for children.Start by working with them to set a goal for accomplishing a chore throughout the week, or for getting homework complete by a certain time each week. You can even start with something seemingly easy like setting a goal for them to remember to brush their teeth on their own each night without being asked. It doesn’t need to be and really shouldn’t be anything elaborate or complex. If you start with something small that they can easily accomplish, they can see how the process of setting goals works and actually be successful at it. Make the goal something within their reach so that they can practice it and feel good about accomplishing it. You will likely have to work with them hand in hand at the beginning, but this will pay off through time. Once they see how good it feels to meet a goal, they will be much more motivated to stick with it and set new goals over time. Reward Their AccomplishmentsA little incentive can go a long way, especially when it comes to kids. You want to establish early on that if they meet their goals, there is a reward in it for them.It’s important that they understand that part of the rewards is feeling good about meeting their goal. However if you add in a little extra incentive along the way it is sure to keep them motivated and ultimately help them to accomplish their goals. Make it something simple - If they meet their goal, they can stay up an extra hour on the weekend, or that they get to pick the movie that your family watches. You’ll be amazed at what a seemingly small reward does for their confidence and ability to meet their goals. Start small in the reward department too so that you don’t end up having to pay out huge rewards. Make the reward line up with the goal itself too so that they can easily see the difference between smaller and larger and longer term goals. Work with Them but Let Them Come Up with the PlanThe best thing you can do as a parent when it comes to goal setting is to lead the child to their path. You want to educate them on what goal setting is and how it works, but you want them to be responsible for establishing their path.So give them examples of what some good goals may be and how they can work to accomplish them. You are ultimately giving them the answers to the quiz, but letting them verbalize them. You want to be careful not to do everything for them because then they won’t take as much pride in their work. If they come up with their own goals and their own plan for accomplishing them based on your subtle hints, then they can truly feel responsible. This is a tactic that really works, and ultimately something that will allow them to stick with this important aspect of time management for the long term. Go from Goal Setting for Children to Goal Setting Resources Goal Setting for ChildrenWhy is Goal Setting Important?As motivational speaker Zig Ziglar once asked, "Are you a wandering generality or a meaningful specific?" Understand the importance of setting goals! Kids Guide to Goal Setting
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