I’ve been trying to teach my kids about setting and working towards goals, but I’m not sure if I’m doing it right. Does anyone have tips on using positive reinforcement for this? What’s worked for you? I want to encourage them without putting too much pressure on.
We’ve had good luck with a simple reward system for goals. Our kids pick things they want to work on, like reading more or helping with chores. We put up colorful charts and they get to add stickers or checkmarks.
For bigger goals, we break them into smaller steps. Our 10-year-old wanted to learn guitar, so we made a practice chart. Each week of practice earned points towards new guitar picks or a music book.
The key has been keeping it fun and not too strict. Sometimes goals change or take longer than expected. We talk about what’s working or not and adjust as needed.
Seeing their progress visually seems to motivate them. They get excited to update their charts and tell us about what they’ve accomplished. It’s been a great way to build their confidence too.
My kid and I started using a fun goal-tracking app recently. It lets us set up little challenges and rewards. Last month, we focused on learning to cook simple meals. Each time my 11-year-old helped in the kitchen, they’d mark it in the app.
We made it a bit of a game, trying new recipes and seeing how many stars we could earn. It was cool to see my child get excited about reaching goals and learning new skills. Plus, now I have a sous chef for taco night!
I remember when my kids were younger and we started with goal setting. It was a bit of trial and error at first. We found that a mix of visual trackers and verbal praise worked well.
For my daughter, we used a simple chart on the fridge for her reading goals. She loved seeing her progress with colorful stickers. My son preferred a more private approach. We’d chat about his goals during our walks and celebrate milestones with a special outing.
Keeping it light and fun was what worked best. Sometimes they’d get discouraged, but we’d talk about adjusting goals or finding new strategies. It taught them flexibility and persistence.
As they got older, we let them take more control of their goal-setting process. Now they come to us with their plans, and we’re more of a sounding board. It’s pretty cool to see how far they’ve come! 
We use a simple goal board at home. Kids write goals, break them into steps. They get points for completing steps, can trade points for small rewards.
My 9-year-old is saving points for a new bike. Keeps him motivated without too much pressure.
I’ve been working on goal setting with my 5-year-old too. We started small with things like learning to tie shoes. I put a chart on the fridge and we’d add a sticker each time they practiced. They got so excited to see the stickers add up!
But sometimes I worry if I’m doing too much or not enough. How do you balance encouragement without going overboard? I’d love to hear what’s worked for other parents with young kids.
Have you tried any apps or tools to make goal tracking more fun? I’ve heard about some but haven’t tried them yet. Do they actually help or just add complexity?