10 | Winter 2022
FA M I LY M AT T E R S
Conquer the Goal Battles: Goal Setting for Children and Teens TARA BONE
contributing writer
A new year should mean new goals for the entire family, right? The benefits of goal setting for children and teens is a popular topic among experts and educators and is all the buzz in news, social media, and even some religious settings. But have you sat down with an 8-yearold boy or a resistant teenager to discuss … gulp, “goals?” I’ve had the pleasure multiple times; with little success. Usually I get a blank stare followed by, “are we done yet?” shortly after we start. I thought I was alone in my failures to jump start motivated, goal-oriented kids, until other discouraged parents assured me I wasn’t.
I went to work gathering resources to help parents conquer the goal battles of 2022. Below are some goal-setting tips and tricks for children and teens. Keep in mind that every child is different, so if one thing doesn’t work, try something else. Don’t give up on efforts to help your child learn a life-long skill that will reap countless rewards down the road. Research has proven that children and teens who learn how to set and accomplish any size goal develop stronger self-confidence and improved decision making skills. RESEARCH-BASED GOAL SETTING BASICS According to Education World, there are six keys to successful goal setting at any age:
1. Write clear and measurable goals. 2. Create a specific action plan for each goal. 3. Read goals daily and visualize accomplishment. 4. Reflect on progress to evaluate progress. 5. Revise action plans if needed. 6. Celebrate accomplishments. APPS AND ONLINE HELPS Decide how your child wants to write down and track goals. Take into consideration their personality. If you have a teen that uses a phone frequently, use a goal app. There are countless apps, books, and free worksheets available online to help track goals. Some favorites are:
