Parenting Tips

It's never too early for our children to start setting goals. As long as they can grasp the concept of deciding what they want, determining how to achieve it, and taking action, they can benefit from goal setting. It's fine if they need a little help and encouragement from parents.

Goals for children this young often consist of learning new things. But it's also great for them to set goals regarding behavior, trying new things, and helping others. A variety of goals will help them broaden their horizons.

What Kinds of Goals Can Toddlers and Preschoolers Set?

Early childhood is a time when children are exploring and learning about the world around them. Helping your toddler or preschooler set goals about learning new things is a great way to introduce him to goal setting. Here are some ideas:

* Early reading goals are great for this age group. Toddlers can make learning the alphabet song one of their goals. Once they have accomplished that, they could learn the letters by sight. Preschoolers can set a goal of learning to write their names and the names of family members.

* Learning new games and songs may not seem like much of a goal to an adult, but to a preschooler it can be a really big deal. The most important thing about setting goals at this stage is learning how to do so effectively and gaining motivation.

* Learning to tie shoes, button clothes, and do other things that we do in everyday life make good goals. Kids need to know these things by the time they get to kindergarten, so having them set goals pertaining to them can motivate them to try hard.

Behavioral goals can include things as simple as saying please and thank you at appropriate times. Tasks related to keeping a child's room clean and picking up after himself also make good goals. But it's important to remember to start small with small children.

Some children are resistant to trying new foods. Encouraging them to set a goal of trying one new food each week can help them overcome their fear of the unknown. Of course this is also a good way to promote healthier eating.

Potty training is a goal of every parent of a toddler. This should also be a goal of the child when he is ready, but it's important not to push it before that time comes. For most goals, achievement should be its own reward. But this is one goal that definitely calls for celebration when achieved.

Early childhood is a great time for children to start setting goals. If they begin early, goal setting could become second nature. And that would be a tremendous asset to their success throughout life.