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Why do some children succeed and others don’t? How do we motivate our children to work hard and do their best? The answer, through Goal-Setting and Achievement Techniques and Parental Encouragement every step of the way. Minor goals, such as making the track team, or winning the high school debate meet, need step by step planning. By meeting minor goals they gain confidence to plan and meet major goals, such as career goals. Goal setting and achievement can be taught as early as 3 years old and sometimes younger! Exposure to many different kinds of experiences gives your child more knowledge and capability to make choices. If they know what’s out there, they can make educated guesses and intelligent decisions. All important in the Goal setting and Achievement process. Great place to start is what your child most desires at the moment. Then help him achieve it by teaching him a step by step plan.
Where to start? Let them dare to dream. Guide them in identifying where they want to go in life. Get them to dream about the possibilities that are out there. Ask questions like, “What do you want to do this year in Football or Academics?”, or “Where do you want to be 10 years from now?” .Then allow them to let their thoughts roam. Let them visualize themselves living out their dreams. When they come to you with a vision, you are ready to take the next important step.
Step by step planning, checking off those plans as they are achieved will bring your child closer to his dreams. Give him a notebook and show him how to organize and keep track of his goals, his minor ones as well as his major goals. Assist them in step by step planning of what is needed in order to reach their goals. Adult guidance is very important at this point, as you will be their first information source. Research the library and other resources, mentors & professionals that will give your child more knowledge. He will need to know what steps are normally taken to achieve his goal, by speaking with or reading information from experienced people. List the options, evaluate the best choices and guide them in making the right decisions FOR THEM! Remember, you are only guiding your child to set and reach goals, not choosing what’s best for him. In order for a child to be motivated to succeed , he needs to feel the choices that he makes are his and his alone. Pressure, coercion or manipulation of any kind will cause your child to lose motivation. Encouragement works best in most situations, including helping your child set and reach goals.
Offering the guidance and encouragement you child needs in setting and reaching his minor and major goals will probably be one of the most important parenting skills you will implement in his life. Teaching him this skill will enable him to perform tasks and achieve goals throughout his entire life. You are in essence teaching him How to Succeed in Life!
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