- Be specific. What would your youngster like to accomplish? Maybe she wants to earn higher grades or become a better gymnast. Suggest that she narrow down the goal so it’s more targeted. Her goal might be “I will turn in all of my assignments on time” or “I will move up one level in gymnastics this year.”
- Map it out. Breaking a goal into small steps makes it feel more manageable. Your child could draw a winding road on paper, add lines to divide it into segments, and write a step in each one. Examples: “Put my planner in my backpack when school ends” or “Do my beam routine five times in a row with-out falling off.” She can color each step as she completes it.
- Check in. Support your child in sticking to her plan. Say she falls behind on a long-term project. Together, look at her planner and find slots of time where she can catch up. Or if she has to miss gymnastics class one day, offer ways to practice at home like using a strip of duct tape as a balance beam.♥
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