Teach your child to set goals. It is a great life skill.

Tech your child to set goal as a lifelong skill. The Primary Years

Sometimes the thought of setting up goals can be daunting. If however, you teach your child to start small and build up slowly, their expectations will grow steadily and they will gradually see the fruits of their labour. Once feeling success from setting goals the interest grows in setting up more goals.

Here are some suggestions to help your child in this area. The examples are helpful to put goal setting in context.

Start Small

Encourage setting small, achievable goals to build confidence.

• Example: "This week, let's try to clean up your toys every day before dinner."

Lead by Example

Show them how you set and achieve your own goals.

• Example: "I want to read one book this month. What goal can you set for yourself?"

Break Big Goals into Steps

Teach them to divide larger goals into manageable tasks.

• Example: "You want to finish your school project. Let's start by gathering materials today."

Celebrate Progress

Recognize and reward efforts to keep motivation high.

• Example: "You practised piano for 10 minutes every day this week—let's celebrate with a special treat!"

Make Goals Fun

Turn goal-setting into a game or challenge.

• Example: "Let’s see if you can improve your running time by 10 seconds each week. We'll keep track together!"

Teach Reflection

Encourage them to think about what worked and what didn't after achieving (or not achieving) their goal.

• Example: "You finished your book! How did breaking it into chapters help you reach your goal?"

Encourage Long-term Goals

Help them think ahead and set goals that take longer to achieve.

• Example: "You want to learn to ride a bike without training wheels. Let’s practice for 15 minutes every day."

Provide Support and Guidance

Offer help without doing it for them, so they feel ownership of their goals.

• Example: "I'll help you study for your spelling test, but you can choose the words you need to practice."

In simple ways you can use goals setting as a way of life. The more your child grows independent of relying less on others and more on themselves, the more they are inclined to set their own goals with confidence.

Be a goal setter in your own life and see how your child will easily adapt to such habits.
— Gail J Smith