Goal Setting For Kids, The Importance Of Teaching Children Goal Setting

With school starting up again goal setting for kids seems to be a relevant topic to write upon. As with most things our practices in life are little more than habit, once a habit is established we switch to auto pilot and reap the rewards or consequences of that habit, subconsciously.

This is why with children in particular, if we teach good habits, life long benefits will be gained. Goal setting is a great habit to teach simply because the benefits are so great and it is so easy to do, a small investment in time with a child teaching this skill can equate into a lifetime of success for that child. So here are some goal setting for kids tips.

start a daily to do list Everyday take 5 minutes with your child and write down 4-5 things to do that day. Get them in the habit of planning the day in the morning. You pick some tasks, let them pick some tasks. Use this to your advantage, for example make picking up their toys a goal or eating all their dinner. Make it win win. They learn a skill, you get a benefit. Review the list at the end of the day Evaluate how successful the day has been, how much of the list has been accomplished and how much has not. Ask why certain task have not been accomplished and what could have been done to be more successful. Praise finished tasks.

Provide incentives or rewards for the completion of larger tasks The goal is to teach real world situations to a child for this is the real world, and those who accomplish goals receive rewards as a result. There has to be incentives and a buy in from the child; seeing that completing goals brings rewards is a good association to make in a young mind.

Make it fun, make it a game Obviously if it’s not fun, a child will not have any desire to participate.

So there are a few of my tips. If you have any tip to share please do so by using the form below.

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