And just like that we have two more days of 2022! With the anticipation of every new year, we all seem to get very hopeful and ambitious about what we want to achieve in the next 365 days. So we set our New Year's Resolutions to do all that we said we would've done in the last year but didn't. Yet, by January's end (if so long), many of us have already cheated on our resolutions or have abandoned them completely. Instead of setting New Year's Resolutions, we should be setting goals - measurable, attainable ones that can be achieved through daily consistent efforts year-round.
One of the most tried and true methods of setting goals is the SMART Method. SMART is an acronym which stands for Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Time-bound. Click here to read more about SMART goals.
So this year, let's set some SMART goals! And better yet, let's teach our kids how to set such goals as well. Making Goal-setting a family affair benefits everyone involved.
Engaging students in goal-setting enables them to become proactive learners. Developing the skill of proper goal-setting helps students to become life-long learners, creates an intrinsic desire for self-improvement, boosts confidence and fuels ambition. - Teenisha Garcia.
Here are a few tips for goal-setting with your kids:
1. Follow the SMART Method.
Establishing SMART goals allows kids to clarify their ideas, focus their efforts, use their time and resources wisely, and increase their chances of achieving their future goals. Taken from https://www.asvabprogram.com/media-center-article/65
PRO tip: Have your kids write down their goals! There is power in writing.
2. Make goal-setting a fun and interactive exercise.
Get crafty when you're setting goals with your kids. Get some bristol board or craft paper, markers, stickers or anything else that you want. Create a Goals chart and make sure to put it in a place where everyone in the family can see it.
3. Get personal about your goals.
Don't just make this an exercise for setting goals for your child. Make sure that you talk about your own goals as well. This will help you to be more relatable to your kid. It'll also show them that adults have to set goals as well and that this is a practice that they will use in the real world to achieve success.
4. Lead by example.
Kids follow what we show them. Since you will be sharing your goals with your kids, make sure to commit to the daily actionable steps that take you closer to your goals so that your kids can follow suit.
5. Hold each other accountable.
Check in regularly with your kids about how their journeys toward achieving their goals are going. Openly and Honestly discuss how you are doing as well. If you see that your child is not doing the agreed steps towards their goals, kindly remind them along the way. And remember number 4 above! Lead by example.
6. Give support along the way.
We want to accomplish our goals and we are committed to continuous improvement. But we also have to teach our kids to be fluid and to be able to pivot when necessary. Our goals don't need to change but our strategy and perspective may need adjusting, depending on what life throws at us. Be sure to give support where necessary.
Teaching our kids how to set and work towards goals prepares them for the real world. When our kids have goals, they build determination and will. And all of this contributes to a growth mindset that carries with them throughout life.
Happy Goal-Setting and All the very best for the new year!