The start of a new year often comes with big resolutions and fresh motivation. While goal setting is usually framed as an adult activity, it can be incredibly valuable for children too—when done the right way. Helping kids set goals isn’t about pressure or perfection; it’s about teaching them how to dream, plan, and grow with confidence.
Start With Conversation, Not Correction
Before jumping into goals, start with a simple conversation. Ask open-ended questions like:
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What are you proud of from last year?
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What was hard?
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What would you like to try or learn this year?
Listening matters more than steering. Children are more invested in goals they choose themselves. Resist the urge to “fix” their answers or redirect them toward what you think is more practical. The goal at this stage is reflection, not refinement.
Keep Goals Small and Specific
Big goals can feel overwhelming, especially for younger children. Help them break ideas down into something concrete and manageable.
Instead of:
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“I want to be better at school”
Try:
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“I want to read for 15 minutes after school three times a week”
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“I want to ask for help when math feels confusing”
Specific goals give children a clearer sense of what success looks like—and make it easier to notice progress.
Focus on Effort, Not Outcomes
Children can’t always control results, but they can control effort. Emphasize goals based on actions rather than achievements.
For example:
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Effort-based: “Practice soccer twice a week”
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Outcome-based: “Make the top team”
When goals focus on effort, children learn that showing up and trying matters more than winning or being perfect. This builds resilience and reduces fear of failure.
Make Goals Age-Appropriate
A preschooler’s goals will look very different from a teenager’s—and that’s exactly how it should be.
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Young children may focus on habits like cleaning up toys, sharing, or learning to tie shoes.
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Elementary-aged children might work on reading, friendships, or trying a new activity.
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Older children and teens can handle longer-term goals related to academics, health, hobbies, or personal growth.
Adjust expectations to match developmental stages, attention spans, and emotional maturity.
Write It Down (or Draw It!)
Putting goals on paper helps make them feel real. Depending on the child’s age, this might look like:
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Drawing a picture of a goal
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Creating a simple goal chart
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Making a vision board with images and words
Keep it visible—on a bedroom wall, fridge, or notebook—to gently remind them of what they’re working toward.
Build in Check-Ins and Flexibility
Goals shouldn’t be set and forgotten. Schedule casual check-ins throughout the year to talk about how things are going.
Ask questions like:
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What’s going well?
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What feels tricky?
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Do we need to change the goal?
Let children know it’s okay to adjust goals. Learning when to adapt is just as important as learning how to persist.
Celebrate Progress—Not Just Completion
Waiting until a goal is fully achieved to celebrate can make the journey feel long and discouraging. Instead, acknowledge small steps along the way.
Celebration doesn’t need to be big:
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Verbal praise
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A high-five or note of encouragement
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Extra time doing a favorite activity
Recognizing effort reinforces motivation and helps children feel seen and capable.
Model Healthy Goal Setting
Children learn more from what we do than what we say. Share your own goals—along with setbacks and adjustments—so they can see that goal setting is a process, not a test.
You might say:
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“I wanted to exercise every day, but that didn’t work for me. Now I’m trying three times a week.”
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“This goal was harder than I expected, but I’m learning from it.”
Modeling honesty and flexibility teaches children that growth includes mistakes.
Keep It Positive and Pressure-Free
The new year should feel like an invitation, not an obligation. Avoid using goals as leverage for behavior or comparison with siblings or peers. The purpose of goal setting is growth, not stress.
When children associate goals with encouragement and support, they’re more likely to carry these skills into adulthood.
Helping children set goals for the new year is less about creating a perfect plan and more about nurturing confidence, curiosity, and self-belief. With patience and encouragement, you’re not just helping them set goals—you’re helping them learn how to grow.