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Setting goals and making resolutions is the typical way to start a new year. We all do it; whether we speak those goals aloud or keep them to ourselves is another story. If you’re truly looking to make a change in your life or wanting to help your child achieve his academic goals, it’s important to do it right.
When helping your child set goals, it’s important to get his buy-in first. There’s little motivation for him to achieve the goal if he didn’t have a say in setting them. Talk to him about where he’d like to be academically in a reasonable amount of time, by the end of the quarter for example. Then write the goal down.

A goal must be specific and measurable so your child knows that he’s achieved it. “Get better grades” is not specific enough. “I will raise my math and reading grades by one letter grade by the end of the quarter” is specific, easily measurable, and has a target end date. Or “I will memorize my algebra formulas for chapter 5 by March 15” sets a more specific goal that is bound to help improve grades. For the athletically-minded kids, goals such as “I will make eight out of 10 attempted free throws” or “I will improve my 100-meter dash by 3 seconds” also work. Most importantly, the goal must be attainable. A regular “C” student can’t expect to suddenly get straight “A”s, but he can work toward that by first bringing up his grades in key subject areas.

Once you child has set a specific goal, it’s time to break it down into smaller pieces. How will he achieve that goal? With your child, list what he needs to do to meet the goal. For academic goals, steps could include memorizing specific facts, finding a tutor, securing a quiet place and time to do homework each night, focusing on a difficult skill first, working with a parent on a regular basis, talking to the teacher, etc. Athletes should focus on practicing the specific skill they are working on, talking to the coach or a mentor player, and setting aside specific times to work on the goal.

Then it’s time to set the plan of action into motion. There will no doubt be set-backs along the way. Help your child identify where his challenges lie, revise the goal if needed, and continue adding to the list of things to do to meet the goal. At the end of the quarter or on the target date, evaluate whether or not the goal was met.  If it was, create a new goal! If the goal wasn’t met, look at why. Was there something that could have been done differently?

A goal achieved is a great boost to a child’s self-confidence and motivation to continue moving forward. Help your child with that confidence by working together throughout the process.