I have shared before that 97% of people have no written goals, of the 3% that have written goals, less than 1% achieve them. Why, because of the 3% that do write their goals, less than 1% ever look at them again or often enough to be inspired to make them happen. Helping children set goals now will be the key to goal setting as an adult.
These statistics should encourage you to help your children learn to set goals at an early age. The side effect may be that you too begin to focus on your goals as well.
“If you wish to have what you want in life you must Focus on the Dream.” by me!
If you do not know how to set goals it can sound overwhelming, I know this was true when teaching my daughter who was then around 8 to set goals. I found that when my daughter was able to accomplish small goals like reading a book that week or learning a new song, she felt inspired to work on more goals.
Helping children set goals will:
- help them create rituals that will help them succeed in life
- teach them that anything is obtainable
- teach them that they are in control of their destiny
So how do you help children set goals?
You can use this simple, yet effective goal setting project for children of any age, especially children under the age of 10. The goal is to fill a container with pennies as fast as possible. Click here for a Free Goal & Progress Workbook and Checklists for you and your children.
Step 1:
To help your child earn rewards for working towards their goals first help them find a clear container. Try to find something that is around the size of a small coffee can. I find that a plastic kool-aid container works best as the cover is easy to take off and put back on and the size is perfect for this goal setting project as they will see results quickly. For younger children go with the smallest container you can, it fills quickly and will motivate them.
Step 2:
You do not have to do this step but it is fun so why not go the extra mile, after all, we are working on goals so let’s make it special. Have your child decorate the container with stickers and anything else that will motivate them to fill it with pennies. Your child will be writing on the container so either place a label on it or use a permanent marker and have your child write their name and the word Goals, for example, Rebecca’s Goals!
Do NOT cut a slit in the top of the container because I want your child to remove the top every-time they deposit a penny. Having to take the time to remove the cover each time will embed this process/feeling of working towards a goal. I want your child to focus on how they feel inside as they get closer to filling the container and reaching a goal.
BIG SECRET: when helping children set goals, the way your child feels perusing a goal is more important than reaching the actual goal!
I encourage you to help children set goals at a young age. Years later they will look back with amazement at the goals they have already reached. If children start writing down their goals when they are young, it will become a lifelong habit that can benefit them always.
Step 3:
For each day that your child spends 15 minutes on a specific goal have them deposit 1 penny into the container. If they spend 15 minutes on all 3 of their top goals they will deposit 3 pennies. If they spend 30 minutes on one goal they will deposit 2 pennies. At the end of the day, they will deposit 1 penny for every 15 minutes they spend on a goal.
When the Goal Jar is full, empty out all the pennies and help your child add them up. Next, write the total on a piece of paper and put the piece of paper into the bottom of the container and start the process over. This process will become addictive and your child will want to see the pennies add up all over again.
My only request is that you share this information with your family and friends. Encouraging each other will make this a fun, creative way to set goals for the entire family. By the way, this tool works for big kids and adults too. If you want to really motivate yourself to deposit a dollar in place of a penny so that when you reach a goal you can reward yourself for a job well done.
Click here for a Free Goal & Progress Workbook and Checklists for you and your children.
