How to Set Goals for Preteens
Goal-setting is something adults deal with regularly. Whether daily, weekly, monthly, annually or longer, setting goals is part of life. Learning these skills early helps aid development and growth for children, not just academically but on personal and financial levels as well. Helping your child set goals as early as preteen years isn't difficult and will have a life-long positive impact. Goal-setting is simple with a few tools.
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Instructions
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Use earning money as a goal-setting aid. As your child sets money aside in her piggy bank or bank account, mark her progress on a goal card. You can do something as simple as drawing a thermometer on a piece of paper and fill in the ""temperature"" as money is raised.
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Help your child set academic goals for himself. Create a goals worksheet or chart that your child and you fill in together. In addition to setting the goals, outline ways to achieve them and who can help achieve them. These goals can be as simple as earning a better grade on the next piece of homework or test, or as complex as shooting for the top 10 percent of students.
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Evaluate the necessity of deadlines or time limits. They may seem like ultimatums to your children, so be cautious suggesting them. It may put unnecessary pressure on them during the course of achieving their goals. If a goal is time sensitive, however, consider breaking down the steps to reach it into smaller, more actionable pieces.
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Help your child set realistic goals, so they don't become overwhelmed. One way to do this is setting smaller goals, so they can see the progress. For example, start with adding extra math problems on a daily or weekly basis, rather than setting the goal of getting straight A's in the class.
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Stress the importance of organization. Being organized is key in goal-setting, particularly if a goal is being more organized or punctual. It is much easier to stay on track if there is no clutter to cause distractions.
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Tips & Warnings
Make sure you set your child's goals at an age-appropriate level and pace. Too many goals, too lofty of goals or too much pressure may bring adverse reactions to the process.
