admin Administrator May 1, 2021 No Comments

Resolutions for Kids

Setting realistic S.M.A.R.T. Goals for kids is one of the best habits you can instil in your child. Choice Education Group with the ultimate goal-setting period coming up, here are some strategies to help make your kids’ resolutions more tangible and achievable.

Ever heard your kids mention ‘S.M.A.R.T. Goals for kids’? S.M.A.R.T. stands for:

Specific
Measurable
Achievable
Relevant
Time-Based

Creating S.M.A.R.T. Goals for kids ensures your child’s satisfaction when the achievable goal has been met. While these goals are often tied to academics, they are equally effective in managing broader responsibilities like completing household chores, maintaining a healthy diet, and nurturing overall wellbeing.

As parents, caregivers or teachers, it is all too easy to give your child or adolescent well-intentioned albeit vague advice or instruction. By setting clear, concise and realistic S.M.A.R.T. Goals for kids, your child (of any age) will benefit during the upcoming goal-setting period.

Kick-start your brain by S.M.A.R.T Goals for kids

Goal: Eat 2 pieces of fruit at lunch

Help your child prosper academically by making healthy eating a family affair!

It is imperative kids are offered fruit throughout the day, says Everyday Health, as Vitamin C is not naturally made by the body. Vitamin C’s benefits for improved focus have been proven through various findings, one being an in-depth study published in 2017’s September edition of ‘Nutrients’. The study found that cognitively intact participants maintained high levels of Vitamin C in their diets, compared to those who were regularly consuming little to no Vitamin C, resulting in impaired cognition.

Aiming to eat just two pieces of fruit a day forgoes that foggy feeling we’ve all endured at some point, and helps your child to focus on their teacher’s or tutor’s instructions, and to complete schoolwork to the best of their ability.

Vitamin C can be found in a variety of fruits such as strawberries, oranges and kiwifruit – perfect for a mid-morning or lunchtime snack, when your brain is most likely to need a healthy boost.

But there is no reason why parents can’t partake in this simple act, too. Vitamin C-rich vegetables such as broccoli, capsicum and snow peas can also be added to the family dinner. And while you’re at it, why not add a little avocado or egg to the weekly menu? Healthline writes that the consumption of folic acid through natural ingredients such as these assists with the promotion of brain health and functions such as verbal IQ and overall improved cognition.

Such a diet consideration is not only pleasant to the palate, but an example of a S.M.A.R.T. Goal for kids the whole family can partake in.

Maintaining Responsibility by S.M.A.R.T Goals for kids

Goal: Do the washing up 3 times a week

It’s easy to sigh, scold, or roll our eyes when a child skips their chores—again. By a certain age, kids are capable of handling household tasks without adult instruction. However, there’s a helpful strategy to get them there faster: S.M.A.R.T. Goals.

S.M.A.R.T. Goals apply to various aspects of life, including self-discipline. Next time you ask your child to “help out around the house,” consider whether they truly understand what that means.

Ensure your instructions are Specific and Time-Based. For example: “Make your bed when you wake up,” “Feed the dog at 5 PM,” or “Wash up after dinner.” Clear expectations and deadlines help your child understand what’s required. If tasks aren’t completed on time, have a calm discussion to explore the reasons behind it.

While your child adjusts to the new routine, continue giving gentle reminders. Together, develop a visual planner to display prominently, such as on the refrigerator door. Encourage your child to check off chores as they complete them. Visual reminders not only benefit kids but also provide a sense of achievement with each tick or sticker on the chart.

This method isn’t just for home; it’s useful in classrooms too. Teachers and online tutors, have you ever taught a student who forgets their books or homework? Creating a visual S.M.A.R.T. Goal page in a school diary can help children stay focused.

Goals for students with specific needs might include: “Pack PE kit on Monday night,” “Read Assessment Schedule twice a week,” or “Check pencil case is packed after every lesson.

Effective Study Patterns by S.M.A.R.T Goals for kids

Goal: Study for 1 Hour Every Weekday

Most children attend school five days a week for seven or more hours a day. Many attend Before and After School Care facilities, sometimes extending their school day to a whopping twelve hours. To then hear “you need to study more” or “you need to watch less TV” can be exhausting, overwhelming and quite simply feel impossible.

Kids, like adults, get tired – both physically and mentally. While our bodies need sleep at night so as to function well the next day, so too do our brains need a break from study.

Studying over multiple sessions, for shorter periods of time while using active study strategies is one of the most impactful ways to absorb information, says The Learning Center. Additionally, multiple studies suggest that studying for hours on end can overwhelm individuals and lead to procrastination.

By setting an Achievable goal of one hour of study per day, your child is likely to improve their study regime, and ultimately their academic performance. Additionally, by helping kids to set a Time-Bound goal most suited to their personal preference (e.g. a mid-morning study period with motivating friends, or after school before the family arrives home), students are more likely to willingly stick to their routine and improve their self-directed learning.

Escapism and Sleep

Goal: Read for 30 Minutes before bed with S.M.A.R.T Goals for kids

Reading in bed was once a common activity for people of all ages; however, since Mobiles and Smart Phones became more accessible, kids and adults are now more likely to scroll and swipe a glowing screen before nodding off at night. However, this has dire effects on the mind and body, which carry through to a child’s ability to learn effectively.

Avoiding light-emitting technology for at least one hour before bed is essential to a good night’s sleep, says Robert Rosenberg, author of ‘Sleep Soundly Every Night, Feel Fantastic Every Day’. While this also includes e-Readers such as the Kindle, if your child is a booklover and reads best using one of these devices, encourage them to hold it 14 inches from their face, with the brightness turned down.

For most bedtime readers, a simple book light or lamp will suffice, as they reach for that fantasy, humour or adventure novel. Reading something unrelated to daytime study is vital to helping a child’s mind relax, and according to a study conducted by the University of Sussex, reading for even six minutes before sleep can significantly reduce stress levels. Not only that, reading fiction in particular provides escapism and distracts a child from anything unpleasant that may have happened that day.

By setting S.M.A.R.T. Setting goals for your child or student that focus on overall wellbeing, rather than just academic achievements, provides them with the opportunity to take responsibility for their own learning and feel a sense of accomplishment with every goal they achieve. By building confidence in this way and establishing positive lifestyle practises, kids are more likely to become self-directed in their study habits at school, at home and at their tutoring centre – becoming better learners overall.