Goal Setting: Help your child achieve her target

Goal setting is the first step towards an entrepreneurial journey. If you want to see your child as a successful entrepreneur, make sure that she understands the basics of this aspect of a business.  Apart from helping kids develop efficient business plans, goal setting skills benefit them in more ways than one. Starting from acting as a motivator and improving decision making capacity to helping children prioritise, the habit of goal setting can impact young minds positively. It also gives clarity about the way forward and makes your child aware of his strengths and weaknesses. So, it will be a good idea to introduce your little one to the concept of targets and get her to start working on them. Try these smart strategies to arm your child with the power of goal setting.  

Start with a mini step  
Discuss with your child about setting a short-term fun goal. It could be something as simple as completing a book that she had started reading or wrapping up a craft project within a given time frame. Small goals will prepare your child for the bigger ones.  

Let your child choose her goal 
Initiate a discussion with your kid about what he wants to achieve. Help him decide and then make a plan for it. Share inputs that she needs from you on her goals. If he wants to save up his pocket money to buy a video game or anything that he has on his wish list, help him been meaning to have for long, help him set a target and work towards it. Make sure that you don’t get angry or impatient if you see him being lazy about his goals. You need to be patient with kids in these matters.  

Set an example  
As an adult, you are better equipped to figure out what it takes to achieve a goal. So, involve your child in your own goal setting process. Break your target into steps and then work towards achieving it. This is what a child needs to learn while it comes to goal setting.  
 
Teach her how to prepare a plan 
Having a proper plan in place is the key to successful goal setting. After your child decides on her target, this is what you need to tell her:  

• Jot down a clear and measurable goal. 
• Prepare a specific action plan for your target. 
• Go through your goals every day. 
• Keep a track of your progress to see where you stand 
• Revise your action plans if you fall short. 

What if your child falls short?  
It may not always be possible for your child to meet her goal. Well, that can be demotivating. As a parent, you should help her through this difficult stage. Try these steps:  

• Sit with your child to assess her goal to see if it is vague or too ambitious. 
• Revise the goal if necessary. Help your kid come up with new ideas to do better the next time.   
• Share your own challenges and difficulties with her. This will make her feel better. Also, tell her how you steered clear of them.  
• Appreciate her for whatever she has achieved. But make sure you do not bribe your kid with a gift.