It is difficult for teens to see beyond the present.Goal setting challenges them psychologically, because it involves having to wait for a long time to see the results.They should learn that anything good is worth working for and that it is only over time and effort that we see the true results of all of our hard work. Here are a few tips to follow when you teach your child to set effective goals.
Ask your child what is most important to him.For example, if he wants to play on the high school football team but is a little less athletic than he needs to be, a productive goal might be to improve his throw, increase his running speed or gain a few pounds.If he wants to make all As but currently has Bs, brainstorm ways to improve.The goals kids set should always reflect what is most important to them.
Be realistic.It is great to dream, but it's better to choose a goal that is achievable than to continually strive for unattainable goals.In terms of basic behavioral psychology principles, if kids repeatedly try but fail they will lose much of their motivation to try.
Compete with yourself. Instead, teach them to challenge themselves to do better than they did in the past.
Mark off achievements as you go.Kids should realize that each milestone they reach takes them that much closer to their end goal. The small accomplishments we do day by day bring us closer to our bigger goals.
| A. Consider priorities. B. Vary the focus of the goals. C. Very few things come to us immediately. D. Kids shouldn't feel they are in a contest with other kids. E. Goal setting for teens should center on the most important things. F. An important lesson to teach them is that they will reach their goal. G. Realistic goals challenge them to reach higher than they have before. |
