Goal Setting for Children Promotes Your Child's Confidence

Goal setting for children can be a fun and rewarding experience that you and your child can embark on, which can change your child’s life forever.

Teaching your child goal setting will give them the sense that they are capable of doing whatever they put their mind to. Now that is valuable!

When I read Go For Your Goals I thought they would be godsend to parents who wish to assist in bringing out the best from within their children. They use similar goal setting principles that I use with successful adults, yet they are modified for young children, with great graphics, clear explanations and enough activities to keep your child’s interest.

'Goal For Your Goals' is a set of three books that offers ways for children to develop their true potential and goals at any age, in addition to a parent's guide which provides an opportunity for parents to develop their child’s understanding of these concepts!

The mind is an amazing machine. One interesting fact about the brain is that it really responds to what you focus on. This is what makes goal setting for children (and adults) such a powerful tool.

For example, current research shows goal setting for children increases performance in the class and on the sporting field; develops life skills, and promotes your child’s confidence.

The principles of goal setting for children are similar to adults, but ‘Go For Your Goals’ show that there are important differences between.

First, because children are less emotionally or cognitively developed than adults, child goals should be smaller and more tangible. Goal setting needs to be adapted for the child’s age.

This is one reason why I like ‘Go For Your Goals’ as it is three books, one written for children aged from 5-9 years of age, another for children aged 10-15 years of age, and a parent’s guide.

Secondly, to keep your child motivated, the goal setting process for children needs to be more involved. I really like the fun activities, such as making a goal ladder, or the board games and activities that come with this book as ways that bring fun to the goal setting activities but also reinforce the core learning principles.

Importantly, the book provides a parent’s guide that you can use to guide your children in their goal setting.

Lets face it, your children love their one-on-one time with you. So any goal setting should involve your participation, and there are a number of things that you can do as an adult.

The parent’s guide describes what you can do to foster your children’s goal setting. I found the guide thoughtful in the way that parents approach their children who may have goal setting difficulties, and also some of steps to take to keep your child motivated.

For example, the parent’s guide describes how:

• You can help your child describe what they would like to achieve in specific terms. Clear and relevant examples with goal setting activities are provided throughout the book – such as helping your child make their wish list.
• You can help your child plan the steps to achieve their goal. The book uses an easy-to-understand goal setting ladder, which can easily be put on your refrigerator and be an inspiration to your children.
• Steps that you can take if your child does not reach their goal and how to review their goal setting.

Finally, overall the graphics really suit the age-groups that they are writing for. If there was one point that I would have to highlight, it is that the graphics would require color printing to be most effective - and this could be more pricey.

However, the parent's guide and the clear and thoughtful way that the children's goal setting books are provided are really important tools that can promote your child's confidence and develop life skills to succeed in life.

From a children’s wish list to developing practical life-skills for success...it's all in Go For Your Goals. If you buy one goal setting for children book this year, make it this one. It was definitely money well spent for me.

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