Most kids don’t grow up knowing how to set goals and work toward accomplishing them, so as parents, we need to teach them. The good news is that this crucial life skill can be learned through hands-on activities. Use these goal-setting activities for kids to help guide you and teach them.
One of the most important life skills that we can teach our kids is how to set and achieve goals.
Studies have shown that when we work towards goals, we are happier people because we have a sense of direction and purpose.
And when kids learn how to do this from a young age, they develop what is called a “growth mindset.” This means that they believe that they can improve their skills and abilities through hard work and effort.
In today’s post, I’m sharing seven different goal-setting activities for kids to teach them the essential life skill they need to find success and happiness!
Why Do Kids Need To Practice Goal-Setting?
The simple answer is that goal-setting helps kids achieve their dreams!
When kids accomplish a goal, they feel a sense of accomplishment and self-efficacy. This boosts their confidence and helps them develop skills necessary for future success, like time management.
And when kids learn how to do this from a young age, it provides direction and motivation as they develop the habit of setting and achieving goals.
This can help them throughout their lives because it will give them the skills to achieve anything they set their minds to!
Grab these free goal-setting worksheets to guide you through the process!
Goal-Setting Activities: A Fun Way To Teach Kids About Goal-Setting
There are many different ways that we can help kids practice goal-setting, but did you know that one of the best ways for kids to learn is through experience and fun goal-setting activities?
Believe it or not, when kids are having fun and enjoying themselves, they’re actually learning more than when they’re sitting in a classroom or listening to a lecture.
This makes games and hands-on activities one of the best ways to teach children about goal-setting.
7 Effective Goal-Setting Activities For Kids
Here are seven different activities that you can try with your child:
1. Brainstorm Interests
Inspire kids to think of goals based on what they like to do. What I mean here is to have them brainstorm their interests.
Ask them what they like to do, what they’re good at, and what they want to learn more about. This will help them come up with goals that are interesting and motivating for them!
2. Play 3 Stars And A Wish Goal-Setting Activity
This game is a great way to help kids think about what they want to achieve.
Have them make three stars for things they have already accomplished or believe they can do well and one wish for something they would like to achieve or improve.
This helps kids focus on their accomplishments while also dreaming big!
3. Make A Bucket List
Encourage kids to make a list of things they want to do in their lifetime. This can be everything from visiting a certain place to trying a new hobby.
Not only will this help them think about their goals, but it will also give them something to look forward to and work towards.
Take it up a notch and make it a family affair by making a bucket list together that includes goals that can be done as a family.
4. Create A Wheel Of Fortune
The Wheel of Fortune is a great way to turn goal-setting activities into a game, as it teaches kids to set and track their goals. Here’s how:
- The wheel is created by dividing a circle into 8 segments, each representing a different area of life, such as family, friends, school, etc.
- Kids choose one category to focus on and write out their goals for that category.
- They then come up with steps they will take to achieve these goals and what obstacles they may encounter.
- As they reach their goals in one segment of the wheel, do something to celebrate!
- Repeat the process for each additional segment.
This is a great way for kids to learn goal-setting skills and improve in many aspects of their life.
5. Ask Fun Questions
One way to help kids practice goal-setting is by asking them fun questions that will get their creative juices flowing.
Questions like “What would you do if you had a million dollars?” or “If you could go on a dream vacation, where would it be?” can help kids think about what they want in life and what’s important to them.
Believe it or not, random questions can be great goal-setting activities for kids because they can help children learn they have the power to achieve hopes, goals, and dreams through planning and work.
6. Make A Vision Board
A vision board is a great way for kids to visualize their goals. Have them cut out pictures from magazines or draw images that represent what they want to achieve.
Then, help them create a plan on how they can make these dreams a reality! Hands-on goal-setting activities for kids like this help kids dream and keep those dreams in mind as they work towards accomplishing goals.
7. Create A Goal Ladder
Goal ladders are a great way for kids to visualize their progress as they work towards their goals. Here’s how:
- Have them start by writing their goal at the top of the ladder.
- Then, have them create a series of rungs on the ladder that will represent steps they need to take in order to achieve their goal.
- I find it helpful to mark off (cross out, color over, etc.) rungs as your child accomplishes them.
Visual goal-setting activities like this one will help them track their progress and stay motivated along the way!
Goal-Setting Activities: Tips For Success
When we talk to our children about goal-setting at an early age, we teach them one of the most important skills they need for a successful life! As parents, there are
These activities will help them learn how to think about their goals, make a plan to achieve them, and track their progress. No matter which activity you choose, there are a few tips that will help make goal-setting successful for kids:
Make Sure The Goals Are SMART
How do your kids know if they’re getting closer to accomplishing their goals? By making all their goals SMART: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Timely.
This acronym will help kids make sure their goals are well-defined and achievable.
When teaching kids how to make SMART goals, make sure they understand these points and can apply them on their own. This way, they will be able to set goals in any area of their life and have a plan on how to achieve them!
Consider Potential Obstacles
Help kids think about potential obstacles they may encounter and how they can overcome them. This will help them plan ahead and stay on track when working towards their goals.
Part of the purpose of these goal-setting activities is to help kids learn how to overcome challenges and work through them to accomplish their goals.
Track Progress Of Goal-Setting Activities
Encourage kids to keep their goals in mind every day and work towards them step by step.
One way to help kids stay motivated when working towards a goal is to track their progress. This could be something as simple as drawing a line on a graph to indicate how close they are to reaching their goal or keeping a journal of their accomplishments.
Seeing evidence that they are making progress will help keep them going!
Grab these free goal-setting worksheets to guide you through the process!
Celebrate Accomplishments!
Make sure kids celebrate every accomplishment along the way, no matter how small it may seem. This will help them stay motivated and continue working towards their goals no matter which goal-setting activities they prefer to use.
Most important of all, don’t forget to have fun with it! Goal-setting should be enjoyable so that kids will want to continue doing it throughout their lives. How do you teach your children about goal-setting? Share your tips in the comments below.
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