At the end of the year, everyone uses this time to set goals for 2015. This shouldn’t be limited to only you. You and your child can come up with resolutions together as well. Goal setting will teach your child self-discipline and the value of rewards and hard work. Your Orange County Pediatric Surgeons at Pediatric Surgical Associates offer tips on how to engage your child in making New Year’s resolutions.
Age-appropriate Resolutions. Goals should be set in accordance to age because their brains function differently at different ages. A toddler may not understand the impact of being healthy yet. The American Academy of Pediatrics has written a great list of goals for each age group. Start there and have your child think of their own.
Write Them Down. By writing down your child’s goals, your child is more likely to achieve their goals. Writing down goals will show your child what they intend to do and it’ll make them feel committed. After your child is down writing them down, hang their goals up in a place where they will be likely to see it often as a reminder, such as the refrigerator door or bedroom door.
Involve the Whole Family. Include the family as well. Make sure your spouse and other children have their own goals. Alsocome up with goals for the whole family, like spending more time together as a family or less time on electronics. This will create a support system among the family.
Be A Role Model. Show your child that you are setting goals for yourself and plan to complete them. Your child is more likely to see your actions and follow them. Write goals for both you and your child to work on together. This will hold you both accountable for keeping up the goal.
Celebrate and Praise your Child. Every time you notice your child completing one of their goals, be sure to acknowledge and praise your child. This will keep them motivated to continue to work on their goals. Every month, sit down with your child to revisit their goals and how far they have gotten. During this time, celebrate their achievements and be understanding of your child if not all goals are being met.
Your Orange County Pediatric Surgeons hope that with these tips you and your child are able to set goals for a healthier New Year. For more information on what kind of goals to set or for an appointment, call us at 714-361-4480 or Contact us.