My Goal in Life for Kids: What Should it Be?

What Should Be My Goal in Life for Kids ?

In short, there is no simple answer; that doesn’t mean there aren’t goals to be made or aspirations to be had! We all know children have big dreams of becoming something great—whether it’s a doctor, astronaut, teacher, or artist. But beyond these aspirations, setting a goal in life can only do you and your kid good.

Setting an achievable and inspiring goal can be essential in finding what makes your children happy, motivated, and eager to grow. Goals give direction and purpose, helping kids navigate challenges and make the most of their potential!

Why Is Having a Goal in Life Important?

Think about a goal like a road map; goals can aid in guiding you in where you want to go, the roads you need to take, and the roads you should avoid. The more detailed your goal is, the better direction you have in terms of accomplishing the aspirations you have for your child!

With goals, children are given motivation to work hard and have a reason to be proud when they achieve something, all while teaching valuable skills that they can utilize in every field of their lives. Some of the valuable skills that can come out of maintaining goals include consistency, productivity, focus & concentration, adaptability, and problem-solving, amongst many more.

What Should a Kid’s Goal in Life Be?

Although every child has their differences, there are some shared objectives that should guide a young person toward a successful and fulfilling future. Children can aim for some worthwhile goals such as the following:

1. To Be a Good Person

Being a good person is essential to achieving success and maintaining a successful life. Practicing important characteristics such as kindness, empathy, and basic human decency will reflect on not only their personality, but will surely reflect on their many endeavors. Whether it’s through making friends, maintaining a connection, or discovering new life passions, being kind can make all the difference for your kid. 

2. To Learn Something New Every Day

As they say “knowledge is power”! A simple, yet powerful goal, practicing uncovering newfound knowledge not only stimulates their intelligence quotient, but also encourages curiosity, all which can lead to them discovering a life-long passion! Keep in mind this doesn’t mean your child needs to engage in hour-long lessons about every subject you can think of, but rather it can be small things, such as solving a math problem, trying out a new hobby, or learning a new word.  

3. To Find and Follow Their Passion

Finding a passion is something everyone does when growing up, and it is important that they are encouraged to pursue what they love! As their parent, it is your job to be that pillar of support for your kids, and often, that support is what motivates them to keep striving for their interests. Inspiring them to pursue their passions will not only lead to a potential future career, but can also lead to a life of happiness and fulfillment. 

4. To Never Give Up

It is important to teach your kids that success is not linear, that it isn’t always an easy feat to achieve. Teaching your kids to always put their best foot forward and face challenges with their head high will teach them important lessons in resilience and hard work, encouraging them to never give up, even in the face of adversity. 

“If it wasn’t hard, everyone would do it. It’s the hard that makes it great.” —Tom Hanks

5. To Be Healthy and Active

Teaching your kids that their health, body and mind, is an incredibly important goal to have, if not the most. Whether it is accomplished through eating healthy foods, getting enough rest, or staying active through sports and such, will play an essential role in helping them remain energized and motivated to pursue other dreams and goals they may have!

6. To Make the World a Better Place

Making the world a better place can serve as great inspiration for your child. Such a goal can manifest positivity and excitement for contributing to something greater than themselves, encouraging them to make a big difference that can render a more significant, wide-scale impact! With things such as taking care of the environment, or advocating for what they believe is right, your child will build a sense of sovereignty and can construct an understanding for what role they play in the world. 

Ways Kids Can Achieve Their Goals

Achieving their goals will not always be easy, but with proper advice and tips, they can certainly accomplish anything. Here are some tips that can assist in helping your kids reach their goals:

• Stay Positive: Challenges will come, but a positive attitude will help you keep going.
• Ask for Help: Parents, teachers, and friends are always there to guide and support you.
• Believe in Yourself: You can achieve anything if you work hard and believe in yourself.
• Reflect & Restart: If one thing doesn’t work out, don’t be afraid to try again and try something new. 
• Set Small Goals: Big dreams start with small steps. Set short-term goals that lead to your bigger dreams.

Practicing these tips can be foundational in the long run for your kids, helping them set and maintain different goals. Reaching their objectives teaches discipline, tenacity, and the worth of diligence in addition to boosting confidence. These little victories will build over time, helping your children develop a strong attitude, stay focused, dream bigger, and negotiate obstacles with intention!

Some Big-Scale Goals for Kids

It is important that your kids have some smaller and generalized goals, having goals for the long term is equally meaningful and important! Here are some long-term goals you can start thinking about for your kids to have: 

1. Gaining Leadership Experience

Leadership experience and development can make for an excellent asset for your child, experience that will assist in future professional and academic endeavors. Practicing leadership in different situations will teach your child to be a leader and someone others can rely on, it can teach your child to think critically and under pressure, and it helps build confidence and self-assurance, all important qualities for a child to have!

2. Creating a Plan

Just like with having goals, having a plan can act as a road map for your child, giving them direction for what they want and can accomplish! With a plan, your child can better envision their future pursuits, and in turn can understand exactly what they need to do in order to achieve this. Doing so will help them understand long-term planning and dedication, demonstrating that their hard work will eventually pay off.

3. Tracking Progress

It is important for them to check in on their progress, to see what has been working for them, and what hasn’t. Doing so can help them eliminate habits or practices that no longer serve a benefit, replacing them with more effective ones! Tracking in general is a good practice to maintain in any field or pursuit, and is essential in improvement for your child!

4. Being Financially Responsible 

Teaching your child the importance of financial responsibility is a goal that they will surely appreciate the older they get. This doesn’t mean they need to be employed full time, or apply for a credit card while still an adolescent, but it doesn’t mean you can’t help them understand how to save money and make money conscious decisions! Small things, such as allocating an allowance and providing a structure for how they spend it, can prove infinitely beneficial in the long run!

In Summary

All in all, your life’s aim should be something that brings your child happiness and enables them to develop into the best version of themselves. The most crucial thing is to keep motivating them and never stop helping them learn, whether their goals consist of assisting others, producing something unique, or investigating new interests. Encourage them to always dream big, work hard, and never forget what is important to them!