Teaching Children about Goal Setting
How to create a vision board
In 2020, all families were adversely affected in one way or another by the pandemic and social isolation. As we begin 2021, we at Champions continue our efforts to meet families where they are to help them reach their goals for this year. We welcome 2021 with open arms and a clear mind after last week’s Holiday Burnout Reset (click here to read last week’s blog).
One way to kick off the new year on a positive note is to visualize what you want to achieve, and the actions needed to reach your 2021 goals. In this week’s blog, we’ll talk about how you and your family can work together to create family vision boards! This can be a great and hopeful way to get together as a family and start a new tradition that helps bring your “vision” for your family to life.
You may be asking, “What are vision boards?”. Vision boards are collage-like visual representations of your goals glued to a poster board. This exercise can help children learn more about setting and working towards goals, which is an important life skill that teaches them responsibility and promotes a sense of accomplishment.
Before creating vision boards with your family, take time to think and talk about the things you and your family accomplished last year and establish some specific goals you all would like to reach this year. Be sure to let your children come up with their own goals. Provide them with guidance on age-appropriate goals that are achievable – and be sure to build in opportunities to celebrate successes big and small!
Once you all have mapped out your goals for this year, it’s time for the fun and creative part of creating the vision board! You will need the following items:
- Poster board
- Variety of magazines for cutting out pictures (or you can print pictures from the internet)
- Glue and/or tape
- Several pairs of scissors
- Crayons, colored pencils, markers, etc.
- Stickers
After your boards are complete, take the time to look over each other’s boards and admire aspects of them together. Hang them up where you and your children will see them prominently and regularly as they will serve as a reminder to stay motivated and on track with your goals. This is a fun family activity that builds positive parent-child relationships and encourages your children to be imaginative, mindful, intentional, optimistic, and grateful for their family support and accomplishments.
See our links to resources for guidance on age-appropriate goals for your children:
21 Vision Board Questions for Kids
5 Best Activities To Do with Kids For Future Entrepreneurship
Goal Setting Worksheet for Children
How to Encourage Goal Setting in Early Childhood (2-5 years old)