Kilgore Primary School
January Counselor Newsletter
Setting S.M.A.R.T Goals
For most adults, the new year brings a new desire to commit (or re-commit) to personal goals. They may not realize exactly what they are doing, but children have a desire to achieve goals too. Setting and meeting goals can give a child an incredible surge of energy and confidence. So what can you do to help? Start the process by looking for ways your child already uses goal-setting techniques. For example, maybe your child saved money to purchase a video game or toy. You could discuss the steps he went through to do that and how those same steps could be applied to a new goal. If you are new to goal setting, here are some tips... Make sure your goals are SMART: Specific- Know exactly what you are wanting to accomplish. Measurable- How will you know you've met your goal? Achievable- Is your goal too far out of reach or just far enough to be challenging? Relevant- Link the goal to something important to you; something that inspires you. Time-Bound- When do you want your goal to be met? As your child begins to set goals and work toward them, don't forget to acknowledge their effort! A little encouragement can go a long way. Of course the best way to encourage is to model the behavior you want to see! Work on setting goals for yourself, so your child can see your success!
January Core Essential~ Self Control
SAY IT:
Choosing to do what you should even when you don’ t want to.
KNOW IT:
Ask a kid...
• Have you ever wanted to keep playing video games at night but your mom or dad said it was time to get a bath and get ready for bed? How did you act? What did you say?
• Think of someone you know that lacks self-control. Think of someone that you know that has great self-control. What are the main differences in their attitudes and behaviors?
SEE IT:
The Disney movie, Finding Nemo, portrays a great example of self-control. When Marlin and
Dory are searching for Nemo they come across a few sharks along the way. The sharks are determined to break their habit of eating fish. While they are talking with Marlin and Dory, a drop of blood sets one of the sharks into a frenzy and he abandons his self-control and attempts to go after the two fish. youtube.com/watch?v=XWuPGKLJXe8
BE IT:
Make a list of things in your life that you want to do but are unhealthy for you. Think of ways
that you can avoid this temptation. Examples might be you really like to eat greasy foods or
chocolate but they are unhealthy food options. What are some things that will help you choose to do the right thing, even when you don’ t want to? Are there certain places that you should avoid? Or are there specific times that you could avoid these places? Come up with some practical strategies to help you sharpen your self-control.