Making Goals Fun
Virtually all children have one thing in common: They are more likely to do something if it is fun. This applies to goal setting just as much as it does to anything else.
Setting goals is a good habit to get our children into early. It builds motivation and self-esteem. But if kids see it as dull and boring, one of two things is likely to happen. They will either refuse to do it, or they will do it begrudgingly just to get their parents off their back. In either case, the child does not come away with a good impression of goal setting.
There are some things we can do to make goals and goal setting more fun. Here are some pointers:
* Introduce your child to the idea of goals in a fun way. For example, the family could play a game together in which you write funny goals on slips of paper and put them in a hat. Each person draws a goal and has to try to achieve it. Use your imagination and come up with goals that are silly but require some amount of effort.
* Help your child come up with fun goals to get started. More serious goals can wait until he has been through the process a few times. Some fun goal ideas are saving up money for a coveted toy, learning a new dance or song, or counting all of the ducks at the pond.
* Have your child draw a picture of his goal. If he can write, have him put the goal in writing as well. Help him decorate the work of art with ribbons, glitter, or a fun frame and hang it on his wall for motivation.
* Discuss the steps necessary to achieve the goal. Then try turning the steps into a song or poem that he can memorize and share with others. Your child could also design a chart to keep track of his progress.
* If extra encouragement is needed, you might try giving your child a small reward as he completes each step for reinforcement. When he reaches his goal, you could make him a certificate in honor of a job well done. But ultimately, achieving the goal should be its own reward.
Goals can be an exciting part of life, and it's important to make sure that our kids realize that. Introducing them to goal setting in a fun and low-pressure way will give them a positive attitude about the idea. Once that attitude has taken hold, we can help our kids move on to more serious goals. Eventually we won't even have to encourage them any more. They will start setting goals all by themselves.
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