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Wednesday, January 10, 2018
10 Tips for Encouraging Children to Set Manageable Goals
As a family, we decided to run a 5K together this spring. My girls are super-excited, but I had to remind them to set reasonable goals as they train for our big race. Your kids might have big goals, too, in the classroom, on the sports field, or in other areas of life. We can use these tips to help our kids set and achieve manageable goals.
Let Kids Choose
I totally support my girls' decision to live a healthier lifestyle this year, and they decided to run a 5K so we could bond and because they wanted a challenge. Because they picked a goal that matters to them instead of going with my agenda, they're more likely to follow through and succeed.
Stretch a Bit
While running a marathon would be too challenging for my girls right now, walking a 5K would be a goal they could master with ease. The right goal stretches them a bit but is attainable and bolsters their confidence to try hard things in the future.
Be Realistic
My older daughter wants to run at least one mile every day before and after school. I love her enthusiasm, but I reminded her that she'll get burned out and potentially injure herself if she pushes herself too hard. More realistic goals, like running around the block the first week and gradually adding more time and length, will actually build her stamina as she strives to achieve her goal.
Set Bite-Sized Goals
The thought of running a 5K overwhelmed my younger daughter at first because she doesn't like running. Then, she decided to alternate running, walking, and strength training, similar to a sofa to 5K training program. Now, she's on board because she knows she can master the daily bite-sized goals as she prepares for our race.
Choose Measurable Parameters
It's one thing to say that we'll run a 5K and another to be ready for that race. My girls need to set training goals they can measure. As an example, instead of saying they'll run more each day, they plan to run five minutes longer.
Add Details
It's easy to make a goal and then not reach it. I challenged my girls to specify when, where, and for how long they'll train each week, and we've already signed up for a local 5K so we know when we have to be ready. These details improve our chances for success.
Chart Progress
Every worthwhile goal includes a progress chart that allows us to see how far we've come and how far we still have to go. A whiteboard, spreadsheet, or pie chart helps us track progress, celebrate the goals we meet, and stay motivated.
Agree on Checkpoints
I definitely don't want to nag my girls about training, but they know that I'll check in regularly to see how they're doing. We will talk about their triumphs and areas in which they want to do better.
Prepare to Readjust Goals
I totally believe that my girls can succeed in training for the 5K, and I also know that life could interfere with their best intentions. For instance, how will they handle busy weeks when they don't have time to train, and what happens if an injury prevents them from running? Without discouraging them, I remind my girls that it's OK to be flexible and readjust their goals as needed.
Model Realistic Goal-Setting
As parents, caregivers, and teachers, we influence the kids in our life, so it makes sense that we model how to set realistic goals. In the spirit of transparency, I give my girls permission to ask about my training progress as I act as a goal-setting role model for my girls.
These tips can help my family train for our first 5K, and they're adaptable to all areas of life. Whether our kids want to get healthy, earn better grades in school, or make more friends, we can use these tips as we encourage our kids to set manageable goals. What other goal-setting tips do you recommend?
Find more about the author: Kim Hart
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