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How to Teach Kids Perseverance and Goal-Setting

To encourage perseverance, teach preteens how to set goals and work to meet them.
By Marie Faust Evitt

7 Goal-Setting Strategies
In early elementary school, Zach Shugart tried every sport but nothing clicked. "He just didn't want to practice to really develop his skills," says his mom, Candy, of Colorado Springs. It was a similar story with schoolwork. "He had the potential to be a great student but wasn't willing to focus on his studies," Shugart recalls.
All parents share that sense of frustration when their child doesn't try hard enough to accomplish something they know he's perfectly capable of. What can you do? One way to foster a can-do attitude is to help your child learn to set goals and meet them, one small step at a time.
Don't get too excited: You probably won't be able to get your child to start aiming for straight A's right away. That kind of goal would be a major challenge for most preteens. But experts say this is an ideal time to introduce your child to the concept of establishing targets and working toward them. Try these strategies to teach your child the power of goal-setting so he'll eventually learn how to work to achieve his best.

Get the Idea Across
Start the process by looking for ways that your child already uses goal-setting techniques. If you notice that your son has managed to save up his money to buy a video game, for example, discuss the steps he needed to take to get what he wanted. Talk to him about how good it feels to accomplish something that you've worked toward. Then, discuss how these same techniques can be used to meet other challenges.

Start Small

Help your child think of a fun goal she could achieve within a short time. Maybe she could finish a book she started or complete a craft project. "Little goals are the best way to get kids moving toward big goals," says Jim Wiltens, a leadership-training instructor in the San Francisco-area schools. "Meeting a goal gives kids an incredible surge of energy."

Let Them Choose
As much as you might want your child to make the honor roll, it's best to let your kid decide what she wants to achieve. Then you can help her make a plan. Obviously, some goals require more input from you. If learning to figure skate is your kid's dream, you're going to have to help her set and achieve her targets. "If parents find they're nagging or getting angry that their child isn't working hard enough to meet a goal, that's a signal they need to back off," warns Edward L. Coyle, PhD, a clinical psychologist in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Be Alert to Possibilities
If your child says, "I wish I could win a prize in the science fair this year," use it as an opportunity to assist him in creating a plan. "Help him write down specific action steps and a timetable for accomplishing each of them," says John Bishop, author of Goal Setting for Students. Then check in with him from time to time to help keep him focused on his targets.

Show Them How
"Adults have a much greater sense of what it takes to accomplish goals," says Virginia Shiller, PhD, author of Rewards for Kids! Ready-to-Use Charts & Activities for Positive Parenting. So include your child in your own goal-setting to show her how the process works. Say you want to create a garden. Get your child involved in everything from researching plants to turning the dirt. "Adults know how to break a goal down into steps, and that's something kids need to learn," Dr. Shiller says.

Provide a Reality Check
Children often underestimate how hard it can be to meet a goal, and then they get frustrated and discouraged when they fall short. If your child decides he wants to play the guitar, for instance, be encouraging but realistic. Point out the challenges and the dedication it will require. The idea isn't to make the goal seem too daunting, but rather to share in the seriousness of the undertaking by helping plan it out.

Applaud Effort
As your child begins to set goals and work toward them, don't forget the compliments. Say something like, "I'm really impressed. When you care about something you really go after it!" advises Dr. Shiller. That's what Candy Shugart did when, in fourth grade, Zach set a goal of learning to play the clarinet and worked hard to master the instrument.
"I never said, 'Go practice,'" Shugart says. "Zach did it himself. I just gave him lots of acknowledgment." After that success he set increasingly more ambitious goals. And his discipline carried over to schoolwork too. "Zach, who's 12 now, says things like, 'I can't cram for this test. I have to start earlier,'" his mom notes. "The change is phenomenal."

When Kids Fall Short
So your child wanted to improve in math, but he got another C on the latest test. Now what? Try these steps. 

Just Do It! A Five-Step Plan

Jim Wiltens, author of Goal Express, outlines steps to set -- and meet -- any target.
     1. Write it down. Become a better baseball player, for example.
     2. Make it specific. "I want to be able to get a base hit once each game."
     3. Consider Pros and Cons. Pros: It will be much more fun and much less embarrassing to be on the                               team. Cons: I already have practice twice a week. Extra practice will cut into my free time.
    4. Define small steps by asking the Three W's. "Who can help?" A coach, parent, or friend, for example.                           "What do I need to do?" Practice more, go to batting cage. "When?" 30 minutes twice a week.
    5. Monitor Progress. Have my parents videotape my swing. Get feedback from my coach.

Looking for a special way to celebrate a birthday, thank a great teacher, or mark a milestone? 

Book Dedications are a great idea!  

What is the Book Dedication Program? 
A book or magazine subscription can be ordered for the Buckingham library and dedicated to a child, teacher, grandparent or to any special person. It is a nice way to honor or remember someone and support the library at the same time. You have 3 options- 

1. Visit the donation tree located outside the library and select a book that our librarians would love to have in our library, 
2.  Purchase a favorite hardcover book and bring it to the library, or
3. Download a form from the website, complete it and hand it in to the office and we'll take care of the rest. 

The Book Dedication Program expands the Buckingham library and makes someone feel very special. 

What happens when you dedicate a book?
* A personalized bookplate is permanently placed in the book. It is really fun for the kids to take out books that were dedicated to them, family members or friends!
* The book is presented to your child (or the honored teacher) during library time. 
* Your child is the first person to check the book out of the library.
* The dedication will be acknowledged in the monthly BEN. 

 

BOOK DEDICATIONS ARE A GIFT TO EVERY STUDENT AT BUCKINGHAM! 

To download a form, please click on the books at the top of the page and follow the link to "Book Dedication Program