9 Steps For Setting And Reaching Goals : For Children & Adults

Parents can help their children have more success in life and in school, by investing the time to teach them how to set and reach goals. One day it might be the goal of earning a college scholarship; today the challenge might be being ready when the school bus comes.

Think of it as a time investment. Break the task process into baby steps. You are teaching your child the fundamentals as they accomplish a step by step process of skill building. Your tasks are to teach, be a role model, and reinforce each productive behavior step. If you positively reinforce each skill along the way you will enjoy the bonus of building your child’s self confidence. It can be simpler than you think.

 

9 Steps To Teach Your Child Goal Setting

1. Conversation: Sit down and discuss with your child what they would like to accomplish. One example might be becoming certified as a scuba diver. The goal needs to be decided by your child. You may need to help “point” your child in the right direction; however, ultimately, your child needs to develop the goal.
2. Sensible: Remember that the goal needs to be small and attainable. Don’t try to reach for the moon. This will only cause frustration.
3. Write Goal: Write down the goal that your child wants to accomplish. You may have to help walk your child through the steps. This is a learning process. Discuss with them the challenges that they may come across. Attaining a goal can be frustrating and challenging. Don’t make their goal sound unattainable;, let them know that they will meet challenges. However, they can overcome these challenges with perseverance. …and with your help.
4. Steps: Next, discuss the steps of reaching this goal and the due date. If the goal is reading a 277 page book for a report or earning a scuba certification, you and your child need discuss what the next steps would be. If the 277 page book and report is due in two weeks, 25 pages per night is much less daunting task than attempting a marathon read the night before the report is due.
5. List: Write down the steps and establish a chart, if needed.
6. Time It: Develop a time table for each step and take the first step together. If the goal is becoming a certified scuba diver, signing up for the classes comes next. The time table might include the following: Classes take the test, sign up for the dive trip to complete your Open Water Dive.
7. Stay Involved. Check with your child every once in awhile to make certain that they are meeting their steps. If not, you may need to make the steps more attainable. Example, read 10 pages twice a day two times a day instead of 20 pages in one sitting. Remember that the most important thing is to make certain that the steps are small and attainable. If not, the child will become frustrated and not want to continue.
8. Celebrate: Celebrate the small successes. These celebrations do not need to break the budget. It can be going for a walk together. Putting a sign on the refrigerator. Calling grandma and telling her the good news. It does not matter how small the successes are.
9. Encourage:  You need to give the child lots of encouragement! You can share stories about you setting goals to reach. Better yet, have your child sit down with you as you develop steps to reach a goal! Ex., cleaning out closets and the basement!

1. Write down the goal.
2. Develop small and attainable steps along with a time table for each step. Write down the steps!
3. Check progress.
4. Celebrate success

You’ll find benefits applying these goal setting and goal reaching steps in your personal life and your career.

The Kamaron Institute’s founder is Margaret Ross. Margaret Ross, an education and workplace relationship expert, is President of the Kamaron Institute and the author of Making Business Work and the Good Finder series for children. 

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Ross is also the host of the Telly Award winning television program, Success Class. For more information please visit www.kamaron.org

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