As we are coming to the end of 2020, I still can't believe it is the end of the year already!
Some might feel they just want to get this year out of the way and start a 'happy' new year.
But we must go into a new year prepared and ready to not only rest during the Christmas holidays, but to reflect and set our goals for 2021.
But where do we start? Especially with encouraging our child to set S.M.A.R.T goals?
What are S.M.A.R.T goals?
I was inspired by my live collab last Saturday with the talented online tutor Alexa from @onlinereadingtutoralexa, as we talked about how to set S.M.A.R.T reading goals for our children.
So let's break down the Acronym S.M.A.R.T and what they stand for.
S - Specific - What exactly do they want to achieve? (action words)
M - Measurable - How long should they monitor their goal?
A - Attainable - Does the goal suit your child's habits and abilities - Do they feel like it is achievable?
R - Relevant - Improves your child's abilities and progress
T - Time - based - When is the deadline to reach that specific target (timeframe)
For Example,
I will read for 30 minutes every night for the next month.
- It is Specific because it is a reading goal.
- It is Measurable because I will be able to maintain 30 mins of reading every night.
- It is Attainable because I read better at night time so it is achievable.
- It is Relevant because I need to be more consistent in my reading.
- It is Time- based because it tells me that I will check my progress at the end of the month.
Top strategies to use when setting S.M.A.R.T goals
Make Sure Your Child's Goals Are Aligned With Their Values
You need to make sure you link your child's goals to their core values or values you share as a family.
For Example,
my core values are My faith, family, and health.
So one of my goals might be: To read a passage from my bible every day.
But if your child's goals are just based on academia, make sure it is something they want to improve and not something YOU think they need to improve.
Share Your Goals With Three Key People
I think it is very important for your child to share their goals with others so they can feel that they are accountable to someone and hopefully, this can help them to execute their goal successfully.
Prepare Everything You Need Before You Start Your Goal
With every goal, you want to build momentum and you do not want to put your goal on hold if you do not have a specific resource.
Therefore, it is important to check before you start your goal, so you can stay motivated in tackling your goal one day at a time.
For Example, If one of my goals is to exercise at least three times a week. I need to think about, have got the right gym clothes? Do I have access to a laptop, computer, or electronic device if I am going to access the videos online?
Minimise Potential Challenges
There are a few ways that you can make your challenges much smaller if you do the following:
- Record your action plans for each goal on a daily/weekly basis.
- Keep a schedule and place it in your calendar as a reminder of when you are going to check your progress E.g Google calendar is great because you can save and integrate your reminders on your phone.
- Evaluate your progress and make adjustments where necessary.
Complete at Least One Action Per Day
Do not put pressure on your child to try and complete so many different actions each day, as it is hard to get used to setting goals let alone taking daily action.
So stick to just one action a day for your child, so they do not feel overwhelmed and they feel it is possible to reach them successfully.
Establish a Support System
Ensure that your child doesn't just have you to support them, but they have others that are pivotal to them achieving that specific goal, and would be a great support system in helping them along the way.
Allow your child to be responsible when selecting the right support system for them, and give your opinion if their choice will either help them to strive or deter them from their goal.
Give Rewards
You have to show your child that there is an incentive if they work and achieve their goals. As the saying goes,
"All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy."
And it is not good for the soul. So if they reach a milestone where they completed action in the day or an action for the whole week.
Reward them, and teach them to reward themselves. Whether it is buying their favourite chocolate, playing their favourite computer game, or watching a movie.
So to conclude:
Make Sure Your Child's Goals Are Aligned With Their Values
Share Your Goals With Three Key People
Prepare Everything You Need Before You Start Your Goal
Minimise Potential Challenges
Complete at Least One Action Per Day
Establish a Support System
Give Rewards
A gift from me to you!
This will be my last blog before the Christmas break, and I will be back on the 11th of Jan 2021.
So as a token of my gratitude and just to say thank you for all the support this year with my blog journey.
Please download my free goal setting chart below for you and your child to complete during the holidays.