Tweens have dreams, big dreams. They are not afraid to dream the impossible. There is no impossible in the minds of the youth. As a parent your challenge is providing the tools and skills necessary for your tween to advocate for themselves turning those dreams into realities. A systematic goal setting approach supports the “anything is possible” mindset as they grow older and are faced with constant distractions.
As tweens prepare for their high school years, this is their chance to learn how to take charge of their future with the choices they make, and where they focus their efforts.
1) Predicting the Future:
Tweens
are just getting started to think and act for themselves. They are
flooded with choice, whether it be personal activities or course selection. It can all be a bit overwhelming. Setting
goals allows tweens to clearly define what it is that really matters, leading
them to identify their unique goals. In tween terms, think of this as choosing
the desired prize.
2) Self-Identified Focus:
With
so many distractions, such as the array of choices available or the digital invasion
of emails and pings vying for attention, tweens who are less adept at tuning
out the noise and clutter caused by all the distractions must navigate their
way to their goal without getting lost. Goal setting helps your tween remain
clear about his/her target goal and focused on decisions. For example, if you tween’s goal is to make
the school golf team and that goal is important, his/her focus will prevail as he/she
identifies for himself/herself that he/she is not going to take swimming,
gymnastics and soccer but instead is going to focus on golf drills in order to make
that goal of being on the school golf team a reality.
3) Success is a Path: In order for goal setting to have value for your tween it has be to a regular activity. Successful goal setting requires routine, perseverance, commitment and a support network. Routine goal setting will reward your tween with skills such as commitment and perseverance. There are many celebrities who had their goals and kept to them when others told them it could not be done: after 12 publisher rejections, JK Rowling, famous author of Harry Potter, reached her goal of getting published. After being cut from the high school basketball team, Michael Jordan renewed his commitment and focus to his goal of being a basketball star.
Goal setting provides tweens with the life skills; perseverance, focus and commitment necessary to turn their dreams into their reality.
Renae Quinton is the author of the Crystal Clear Goal setting workbook, being used in schools across the Caribbean, and the newly launched Crystal Clear app. You can also find Crystal Clear on Twitter and Facebook.
