Back-to-School Parenting Tip — How to Encourage Your Child’s Goals
Recently while shopping, I noticed hurried parents juggling a school supply list, jostling impatient children through the rows of supplies, and negotiating preferences in backpack designs and binder colors while ticking off the budget restraints. Yes. Summer is over, and school is in!
A new school year, new teachers, and classmates kept our home ablaze with activities, yet with an added twist, we had “the talk.”
The talk involved rehearsing the family expectations for the school year: grow in character, cultivate a good work ethic in the classroom, pursue excellence, and make the year memorable for the good. We conclude the talk with a family ritual: writing “the goal sheet.”
The goal sheet was a sheet of paper given to each child to write down a realistic, measurable goal in each area: academics, personal, spiritual, and emotional (i.e., to have and keep a study schedule; to serve on some church or community volunteer project; to complete household chores before watching television).
Next, we would review and discuss their goals and help them work a plan on how to reach the goals by the end of the school year. It was a learning experience for all of us.
Lastly, we asked them to select two or three adults they admire as cheerleaders and coaches from our circle of friends or family. These men and women would listen, pray, and encourage them on reaching these goals. I believe the children rose to the expectations as they took ownership of their plans. There were struggles and challenges, but many victories were realized!
Did it work? Recently, our 29-year-old son — now a pastor, husband, and father of two daughters — honored one of his coaches. He acknowledged that the belief and involvement of this man inspired him to finish well during those middle and high school years. I agree!
Do you have a plan for encouraging your child’s goals this year? Leave a comment and share it with us!
Thanks so much, Karen, for these great tips!
I just recognized your last name. If your husband is Crawford, then I heard him speak many years ago at a Crusade conference in New England when I was in college. 😀
Yes…her hubby is Crawford and he is an amazing Pastor and I could sit and listen to him all day long! Karen is busily preparing for her upcoming weekend in Indianapolis with True Woman – you might lift up a prayer for her as she prepares! Thanks for being a part of our MomLife Today community and blessings to you!
Such a helpful post!. So last night after dinner (Labor Day) we sat around the dinner table – I read this to our two teenagers at home (the other 3 are grown and out of the house) and then we passed around paper and pens and the kids and my husband and I spent some time writing out our goals and then we shared and discussed them with each other. It was so helpful to do this together with our teens – with one starting high school and one a senior – it was so valuable. Yes, they groaned quietly at first – but quickly came around and actually seemed grateful we took the time to do this! We now plan to hold each other accountable by discussing our goals and how we are doing once a month with each other.
Thanks Karen for such a practical, helpful resource!
Karen, Thanks so much for this post. Recently, a group of 6 ladies and myself read a book by Anne Ortlund entitled, "Disciplines of the Beautiful Woman". The book was such a blessing and one of the sections focused on setting personal goals. Needless to say, our children were on the list. Many women began setting goals for themsleves, but did not recognize helping set goals for our children was just as important. I have found that being on the same page with my children is key to fulfilling their God ordained purposes. If we were not on the same page, we would be overcommitted and not helping our children be who God wants them to be. With that being said, I just emailed your article out to the women who were in the book study and I thank you for the simple practicality of sharing how you did it. Best!
Mrs. Loritts thank you for writing this article. Te'Sheba, I appreciate you sending me the link. My children set their goals last month. I'm really excited about the including adults they admire as their support team. I praise God for this idea because it is important for our children to have people we trust speak God's word and life into them. Thank you for the practical recommendations in goals setting.
Stephanie