Back to School Success

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In my neck of the woods the back to school season is in full swing. My kids have a couple more weeks to go and, honestly, it can’t be soon enough. By this time during summer break they are getting bored and there are only so many jaunts to the pool they can stand.

But that’s not the focus of this article. Recently I thought about all I have to do for the kids to prepare for school this year. My mind wandered through the memories of last year’s preparation and how, a few days before they went back, I sat them down and asked them what they wanted to accomplish that year. What goals did they want to set?

My then 13 year old daughter gave some vague answer, but my 9 year old son proclaimed he was going to make 100 friends! He didn’t care about classes or grades or being the best athlete on the playground. He simply wanted to make friends, 100 of them.

It sounded like quite a tall order but he was firm in his desire and the number. I can’t tell you if he reached his goal, but I do know there were a lot of kids who knew his name. It helps that he’s a friendly kid and wants everyone to like him. He doesn’t pick fights or make fun of people who are different from him. He simply accepts them as they are.

Kids making goals at the beginning of the year is a great way to set them up for success. They have something to work toward (other than mandatory school work); to accomplish and then they are able to look back over the year and see how much they’ve progressed.

Their goals don’t have to be complicated. On the contrary, the smaller goals are what strengthen their resolve to reach for bigger things. No matter what their grade, accomplishing their goals is a huge self-esteem booster.

I believe in writing down goals, both short and long term. Kids can create a chart (with mom or dad’s help of course) that features their one or many goals. Seeing their progress each week or month (like a growth chart) keeps them encouraged to keep moving toward their objectives. Put a star on the chart or a penny in a jar to keep the motivation level high throughout the year.

Setting goals is not only for the kids as they head back to school. You may have some personal goals of your own that have been floating around in your head, so use this time to chart them too. Adult-sized goals may include saving a certain amount for the Christmas season, losing weight for the holiday party dresses you’ll be wearing, or educational goals you may have.

The point of it all is to do a little each day to feel a sense of purpose and long term success! So why not sit your children down and talk about what they want to accomplish this school year…and don’t forget to set a few for yourself.

Samantha Gregory is a freelance writer, author, consultant, techno-geek, and blogger at RichSingleMomma. Stop by for practical personal finance tips and a free copy of the Single Mom Success and Survival Kit.

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