A great way to teach your child about goals is to lead by example. Make a fun project for you both or as a family to reach certain goals.
Some things to consider when helping your child with goal setting.
1. In the beginning help your child set small achievable goals with small time frames.
2. Have (or you write if too young) the child write down the goals they would like to achieve, why they want to achieve it and what it will look like when they have achieve this goal.
3. Let your child be the designer of the goal with you providing the back up support
4. Be sensitive to the size of the goal as a huge goal over months will not be realistic to a child.
5. Be a strong support role for your child but don't be the driver.
6. Break big goals down into little daily achievable goals
7. Set your own goals and lead by example.
Childs goal: To make a new friend at school
Step One: Say hello when you get to school
Step Two: Say hello and goodbye at school
Step Three: Say hello during recess
Step Three: Say hello during recess and lunch
Step Four: Approach at recess and introduce yourself
Step Five: Approach at the end of the day and ask if they would like to play at recess next week
At the end of each day have a discussion with your child on the goals they have reached or not reached and what the next stage is.. Move onto next step or work on the step they are already on.
Kids love structure and routine, so giving them something like this to work with is a dream for a child. Children like to know where they stand and we as adults can help them asses and reassess each day.
Parents, the best way to show your children how to set and achieve written goals is to do a Goal plan for yourself. This will show your child that it is a way of life. Also, It is really important that their goals reflect their value system and not yours.
I know as parents we want the best.. But if they set a goal that doesn't reflect their value system then they are being set up for failure. If that process is repeated you will sure enough have a child that minimizes themselves and put others on pedestal which often leads to depression.