The start of a new year can be a great time to assist children with developing plans to continue to reach their goals and milestones. Unfortunately, many adults have grown up and never learned how to set target goals and aim toward achieving them. The lack of ability to set realistic goals can greatly hinder one’s ability to be successful in all areas of their life. Learning how to set realistic goals and objectives can assist children with learning responsibility, independence, and self-confidence. 

The Art of Aiming

During early childhood years, children typically depend on their parents to set goals and strategies for them to help them improve and acquire skills. Many children never learn how to set goals for themselves according to their areas in which they need to improve. It is essential that children learn to be reflective about their areas of weakness. This enables children to acquire the ability to self-evaluate. Additionally, it is important for children to learn how to set goals that are realistic according to their own potential and strengths. Learning to establish realistic goals will prevent children from establishing goals and objectives that are beyond their current potential. Children that lack confidence in themselves may set the bar too low for themselves, consequentially limiting their growth and potential. Children with high confidence may set the bar too high for themselves, ultimately leading to discouragement or goal abandonment. Overall, it is essential that parents assist children in this process to help them set realistic goals that are both achievable and challenging. 

Responsibility & Independence

Naturally parents want their children to be successful in life. Childhood is a magical time in which children have remarkable optimism for their future and ability to do amazing things. Children have an exciting outlook on their future but lack insight on how they can make their dreams reality. Parents play a major role in continuing to nurture this sense of optimism, while instilling values of responsibility and independence. Unfortunately, during early-childhood, many children become very reliant upon parents for planning their daily routines, and activities. This is essential as children must learn to how to follow a balanced routine and schedule. However, as children become older is essential that they become more involved and proactive in setting personal goals and objectives. Involvement in goal setting increases their sense of accountability for failures and successes. 

Self-confidence

As children become more involved in setting their own goals, they take achievement much more seriously. When children are able to achieve even small goals, they become more confident in their own ability to achieve bigger goals. Setting small realistic goals can help children with low self-confidence feel more motivated to tackle bigger goals. Encouragement and appraisal from parents can add a major boost to a child’s self-esteem. When setting goals for children with low self-confidence it can be helpful to start with an area, they find great interest such as sports, crafts, or music. 

Tips for Cultivating Goal-Oriented Children

• Model good consistency with working toward your own goals and objectives.
• Get children involved in setting individual and family goals for fitness or reading.
• Assist children with creating a chart for goals and small objectives to achieving the goals.
• Keep track of progress and display accomplishments to family and friends. 
• Reward achievements regularly.
• Find role models that may display achievement attitude to keep children motivated.
• Coach children when they are feeling discouraged.