I learn the hard way. Not always by choice, but typically life teaches me that I could have learned more simply if I had only had a plan. And much like Dorothy from “The Wizard of Oz,” I feel like I am on a path to the Emerald City, but getting there is chock full of pit-falls, and surprises. If I only had a plan.
Since I want my kids to be more equipped to handle the forks in their yellow-brick-roads than I was at their age, I came up with a basic strategy. Each Christmas the kids get a new calendar for the following year. It’s an inexpensive gift that serves a greater purpose. Between Christmas and New Year, they brainstorm and come up with four goals for the following year. These are any goals they wish to accomplish that will drive their lives forward.
We keep it simple and age appropriate, such as wanting improve one letter grade in math, or wanting to learn a new sport. Then we break it down by time-frames. Say your 12-year-old wants to begin babysitting for the neighbors this coming year to earn some extra money. We write out each step to obtaining the goal, such as attending the Red Cross CPR training to get certified, research as to what other sitters are charging, and assign dates or deadlines to these steps. It could also be a basic as overcoming a bad habit. Then the system works by checking off the days you have successfully avoided the negative behavior. After a certain time frame, you get a reward.
Then we do quarterly checks to see if we are on track to reach our goals by our due dates. This keeps kids (and me) on track, and the goals are reached. They monitor their own progress, making notes on the calendar. Then there is a sense of accomplishment, as well as organizational tools put into place. Once the goal is met, we have a little celebration, such as a special dinner selected by the one who met their goal. The best part is, planning becomes ingrained. It is a way of life once they get ready to take on adulthood.
It’s not a competition, and we stress this to the kids. We encourage each other toward our goals, and when one of us is victorious in getting what we wanted, we all participate in the celebration. This keeps everyone motivated toward their own achievments, and fosters a feeling of commaraderie as opposed to jealousy.
The kids look forward to getting creative with their selections, and it is a way to keep them from abandoning their aspirations by showing them that everything is obtainable, once you have a plan.