All parents want to help their children thrive and excel in school. For some students, motivation comes naturally. But for others, learning can be a bit of a challenge. No matter what learning style your child falls under, every student can benefit from setting education goals. So, help your child set a few New Year’s resolutions that will motivate them in the classroom this school year!
The Importance of Goal Setting for Kids
Setting goals helps students align their focus and sustain that momentum in their educational careers. When children set goals early on, they are encouraged to think about their dreams and what they need to do to fulfill them.
Not only is goal setting a form of motivation, but it can also improve mental health and contribute to personal success outside of school. Many children achieve greater self-confidence, useful life skills, and more benefits that we’ll explain below.
Benefits Of Setting Learning Goals for Kids
So, now we’ve established that setting education goals for kids sets them up for success in school. But there are so many other benefits that students experience, including:
Clarifies The Path Ahead
Goal setting provides the direction that many young students seek, giving them a sense of purpose. This encourages them to take a more active role in building their future.
Improves Self-Image
Nothing boosts your self-esteem more than the feeling of meeting your goals! Trying new things and facing new challenges allows kids to build confidence.
Encourages Prioritization
With defined goals, children can differentiate what is important to them and focus on it. It’s crucial that kids learn how to manage their priorities to meet their goals.
Teaches Responsibility
Personal goals teach kids what it means to be accountable for yourself. They’ll learn that their success or failure depends on what they put into it.
Improves Decision Making
Decision making is a valuable life skill that teaches kids to control impulsive behavior and make responsible choices. In addition, it helps them become more independent and thoughtful in their actions.
Builds Resilience and Perseverance
Children who develop resilience are better prepared to learn from failure. When they have an end goal in mind, they’ll learn to handle their emotions while overcoming obstacles along the way.
How To Help Your Child Set Education Goals
It’s best to teach goal setting as early in your child’s educational career as possible. With that in mind, check out these four steps to helping your kids set and achieve their goals this school year.
1. Set Realistic Goals
Encourage your kids to choose realistic goals. Sometimes kids get ahead of themselves and select goals that are too big and nearly impossible to achieve. It may be beneficial to focus on short-term goals initially and work their way up to more ambitious, long-term goals.
Keep in mind that every student is different, so you’ll want to personalize your child’s goals to meet their specific needs, like learning gaps for example. The goals can be based on what they want to achieve or even focus on areas where they are struggling. Either way, it’s best to be as specific as possible. When your child thoroughly understands the goal, there is a far better chance of accomplishing it.
2. Discuss the Purpose of The Goal
When discussing new goals, remember to communicate the benefits to your child. For example, will it help them earn a better grade? Will it reduce stress and make school more enjoyable? When children know the purpose of learning goals, it helps keep them motivated to achieve them.
3. Write Down Your Goals
Did you know that you are 42% more likely to achieve your goals when you write them down? It’s true! Putting pen to paper encourages your child to actively think about the goals and start planning to achieve them. Plus, by recording the goals in writing, you can revisit them from time to time as a reminder to stay on track.
4. Track Your Progress
Don’t forget to schedule regular check-ins! This will help you keep track of your child’s progress and, if needed, determine what additional steps are necessary to achieve the goal. You can even break down a big goal into multiple smaller tasks to clearly measure the progress made.
Examples of Learning Goals for Kids
Now that you know how to navigate the goal-setting process with your child, it’s time to start brainstorming. Here are a few examples of achievable learning goals you can set with your child this year.
Education Goals for Younger Students
- Make straight As on my next report card.
- Learn to count to 100.
- Practice my flashcards every day.
- Finish my homework before dinner every night.
- Get an A in math class this year.
- Turn in all my assignments on time.
Education Goals for High Schoolers
- Read one book every month.
- Learn to type 60 words per minute.
- Apply for one scholarship every week.
- Study for the SAT for 30 minutes every day.
- Start a study group with my classmates.
- Graduate in the top 10% of my class.
Achieve Your Learning Goals with UpReach Learning
With online tutoring programs from UpReach Learning, your child will be on the path to success in no time! We offer affordable tutoring for elementary students, middle schoolers, and high schoolers. Our specialized online courses are designed to further your child’s knowledge in various subjects.
If your child needs help reaching their education goals, contact UpReach Learning today to learn more about our virtual tutoring programs.