Are You Teaching Your Children to Set Smart Goals?

             Parents can help their children to have a successful 2022 by helping them to make resolutions. By teaching their children to set and reach goals, parents can strengthen their family, community, and nation.

            Most adults make resolutions or set goals for the New Year, but they may not understand the importance of teaching the process to their children. Lois M. Collins wrote that the tradition of setting New Year’s resolutions “provides parents an important opportunity to work with their kids on setting goals. Making resolutions can teach children lessons that will serve them well their whole lives.” According to experts, “making and working on resolutions helps kids to do the following. 

·         Decide what they’d like to change.

·         Feel more control over their future.

·         Talk to parents about goals and what they’d like more or less of in their lives.

·         Organize both thoughts and actions.

·         Learn to break tasks down to achieve big goals.

Since children imitate their parents, the New Year presents “a great opportunity for parents to sit down with their kids and discuss goal setting and planning.” As children pick a goal and decides how to achieve it, parents can “learn what’s important to their children, and bond with them.” It also gives parents an opportunity to show their children that they are “invested in their future” and discuss “how to gain opportunities and overcome challenges.”           

             In addition, setting goals helps children to learn how to make choices. However, parents must help children to set realistic goals and teach them “the power of follow-through and accountability.” Parents can strengthen their family, community, and nation by instructing their children in making smart goals.