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It's that time of year when we all try to generate a quick list of things to aid in our own self-improvement! Yes, I'm talking about the moment when, as a society, we collectively decide to start making unrealistic goals as a new year approaches. I'm sure you've heard the saying 'New Year, New Me!' and, honestly, it still gets me every year. I find myself heading out to buy a new calendar and journal to match so that I can create and keep track of my goals.

Today, as I was searching for cute calendars (I’m a sucker for aesthetics), I pondered how goal-setting doesn’t have to be a once-a-year event for a handful of unrealistic desires. Instead, it can be an effective tool that helps us throughout our lifespan. I even thought that if we teach our kids how to effectively set realistic goals, they can implement this skill in their own lives. It's a win-win situation!

I don't know about you, but personally, setting goals helps me have some kind of roadmap so that I'm not just floating through life aimlessly. It's so easy to lose sight of what truly matters, and sometimes it feels like life is steering us instead of us having a real purpose and moving with intention. So, with this fantastic idea, let's dive right into how we can pass on this crucial life skill to our kiddos!

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There are some key things to include in the goal setting process to make them as realistic as possible. If you have a pen and notebook handy or you like to take notes in your notes app on your device, I would definitely take note.

You may have heard about the acronym S.M.A.R.T., which is a tool often used for fitness goals. However, I believe it translates well to setting various goals. Let's dive right into what the acronym stands for:

Specific: It is important to clearly define your goals by making them as detailed as possible. Avoid using general verbiage such as “I want to do good in school”, instead encourage your child to make more niche goals to obtain their overall goal. For example, if your child wants to improve their academic performance a specific goal would be to “Study my vocabulary words for English for 20 minutes during weekdays.” In this example we know that the child wants to specifically study to improve their vocabulary in for their English class.

Measurable: Setting a measurable goal is essential for enabling proper progress tracking. After all, what's the use of having a goal if you can't see your advancement? For instance, if your child aims to score 5 points higher on their weekly vocabulary tests (conducted every Friday), it becomes crucial to keep tabs on their progress. This can be achieved by maintaining a journal or some form of documentation to log the score your child achieves each week. By having a measurable benchmark, your child gains visibility into their improvement over time, fostering a clearer understanding of their journey toward the goal.

Action: Taking actionable steps is crucial for translating goals into tangible progress. For instance, if your child aspires to achieve A and B honor roll status by the end of their first term, a specific action step could be consistently submitting all assignments before the deadline. To monitor and stay accountable for this action, they can maintain an agenda, recording the date on which they turn in assignments for each class. Implementing such actions empowers the child to take ownership of their goals and enhances their sense of accountability in the pursuit of academic success.

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