Practical Parenting

by Crystal Linn

 

Crystal Linn is a childcare expert and a professional writer. She is co-founder of
C and C Educational Consultants, a Bothell-based company that works with childcare professionals and also offers children's workshops and parenting classes. Crystal enjoys reading mysteries, writing poetry and sailing. She would love to hear from you at candceducationalconsultants@gmail.com or at (206) 715-2505.

The history of New Year's resolutions goes back approximately 4,000 years to the ancient Babylonian civilization, around 2000 BC, where the citizens made promises to their gods in order to gain favor for the new year. While you and I may not be seeking the favor of our gods, we still believe it is important to make promises to ourselves--to set goals for ourselves--to improve our lives, which is a good thing to teach children.

Even preschool children can grasp a simplified version of goal-setting. While it may take some effort at the beginning, children involved in setting their own goals have many advantages as the process teaches children valuable skills such as self-discipline, organization and motivation.

Here are seven simple steps to assist you in mentoring your child (ren) with goal-setting:

Start now; it is never too early or too late for children to set goals.

Listen carefully to what your child has to say about his/her goals.

Make sure the goal is achievable, measureable and believable.

Be sure the goal is relevant to your child.

Make this a family activity, as much as is appropriate.

Be supportive, respectful and encouraging.

Celebrate even the small successes, as this is a positive learning experience for all.

Many creative things have been done to make achieving goals fun and to help children become more motivated. Create songs about a goal, make a check-off list and assist children in drawing pictures of their goals. As with most things for children, the more fun something is, the more likely they are to follow through.

Try some of these ideas for your own goal-setting as well and see if it makes achieving your goals easier. I've seen adults do everything from plastering their walls with photos of a goal to purchasing a small replica of their goal, such as a toy car.

To your parenting success,

Crystal

Quotable Parenting Quote:

Encourage and support your kids because "Children are apt to live up to what you believe of them." - Lady Bird Johnson