Help Your Child Create New Year’s Goals

Most adults participate in the age-old challenge of setting goals for the new year. Children, on the other hand, seem to be exempt from this ritual. Whether your goal is to improve your health, strengthen your faith, or travel the world, keep in mind that your children should also set goals. Studies have found that children with long-term goals are likely to strive to reach those goals. Children without long-term goals can reach their short-term goals, but with no clear idea of what they would like to achieve in a few months’ time – or even a year’s time – they may find their success does not meet the success of their peers with long-term goals. The Diocese of Orlando’s private schools in Central Florida encourage families to set goals together, then find a few individual goals to achieve.What Is a Goal?Younger children, in particular, may need a clear definition of a goal. Give them an example, such as “your goal is to pick up all your books in ten minutes.” Once they have reached their goal, give them a reward, such as a granola bar or a cookie. Then, explain that some goals take much longer to reach, such as studying to make good grades for the remainder of the school year or earning money for a new video game. Whatever their goal, give them an incentive.Why Are Goals Important?Creating goals improves decision making. In the above example concerning the video game, children have to determine how they can earn money, where they will keep the money (a bank in their room or a savings account) and how to shop for the best price on the game. Setting and reaching goals builds confidence; once the goal is reached, children find the reward was worth the effort and can set a new, more difficult goal.Are Your Goals Realistic?If your child’s goal for 2017 is to travel to the moon or to have a pet giraffe, chances are pretty good those goals will not be met. Tone down the enthusiasm a bit and explain that these goals should be something they believe can honestly happen, and explain that they have to be the one who sets the wheels in action.VisualizeIf your child’s goal is to improve his or her grades at a private school in Central Florida for the remainder of the 2016-2017 school year, design a poster with “Great Grades” or something similar in the center. Color and decorate the poster, then cover the board with all the great work during the remainder of the school year. As each piece of paper is added, the idea that goals are attainable is reinforced.Celebrate!The ultimate method to setting up more goals is to reward the first goal. Children love even the simplest of surprises, such as a trip to the self-serve yogurt shop or their choice of dinner. Whatever the choice, make a fuss and begin the process with a new goal.For more fantastic ideas on motivating your children, check out the Diocese of Orlando’s blog page. If your child is not already enrolled in a private school in Central Florida, call the Diocese at 407-246-4903 to learn about the Catholic schools in our area.