Single Parents: How to Help Your Child Set Goals

In a single parent household with the odds already stacked against you, in order to achieve success in any endeavor you have to level out the odds in the playing field. The key to this success comes from an old quote "work smarter, not harder."

The ability to first inspire, set, and achieve goals comes from the inspiration of the mind, and what a better mind to inspire than the mind of a child. The child's mind is like a sponge sucking in anything available within its reach. These early formative years of the child's life are crucial when it comes to establishing a positive emotional outlook.

Inspiration

Instilling in your child a positive attitude along with encouragement is essential for setting and also achieving goals. But before these goals can be set the mind must be inspired.

Inspiration comes from the mind and its thoughts. The best way to inspire a child is to feed their curious mind. Listen to the child when they're young and find out what inspires their minds. Once inspiration has filled the mind of your child the "soil" of the mind is ready and it's time to plant the seed.

Start off slow when the children are young, such as setting and achieving short term goals. These goals can be: picking up after themselves, putting up their toys and keeping their rooms clean. This also helps out the single parent who is their only role model. These small tasks will instill a feeling of accomplishment in your child along with a feeling of self worth. Now confidence is beginning to grow in your child.

Building Confidence

As these small goals are achieved together a bonding is formed between the parent and the child. Now faith and trust are being formed between the parent and also the child. Celebrate and reward the achievement of each goal and congratulate you children. Don't scold them if they failed, explain the outcome of their decision and inspire them in a new direction.

As the child begins to grow older inspire them to set different types of goals by setting goals for yourself along with your child. You are the only role model in your child, and what you do the young child repeats.

Setting goals with your child teaches them to work and listen to others, and to be creative in their aspirations. This team spirit helps your child to open their minds to all the possibilities in life.

After the child had been inspired to set goals, interject the ability to set different type of goals such as: short, medium, and long term goals. These goals can be set in time frames. Make these goals attainable endeavors.

Speak with your children about their goals, and discuss what needs to be done in order to attain each goal. As short term goals are achieved, this inspires the child to strive for an even more difficult task.

Communication

Being a single parent means that you have no one to discuss your ideas with other than family members. Talking with someone who has never dealt with this situation before provides no guidance, so speak with someone who has went through a single parent lifestyle. This can sometimes open up a new way of thinking, and also provides a fresh new outlook to the situation. This way you can receive useful information which is also helpful in building your own self confidence.

Be creative when setting goals with your children. Make it fun or a contest if there's more than one child. Devise a plan of documenting each goal by: writing the goals down on paper, making a chart or a graph to show the progress of achieving the goal, or creating a computer file (or program) which can aide the child in setting up and achieving the goals. This is fun way for the child to check their progress. This also helps to educate the child as they're working towards their goals.

Fresh new ways of thought are inspirational for your children when you do it with them. Anything which is visual is a positive way to inspire your child. If they can see the goal written down before their eyes it must be attainable.

Teach your children to always keep a positive outlook when it comes to achieving their goals. Show them how to learn and benefit from their mistakes. Inform your children that an obstacle is just something to avoid. Always keep in mind that a dead end is just a place to turn around; nothing is impossible!

Teach your children to motivate themselves when it comes to setting new goals. Stand behind your children and support them in their endeavors. Always congratulate your child on their achievements, which helps to keep them inspired; this is not a one time deal. What you've instilled into your child's mind will last them a lifetime.

This world is becoming a struggle for survival, and your children need the ability to look beyond these obstacles which could block their emotional growth. With each goal that's achieved, confidence is instilled into their minds along with the courage to go out and achieve their wildest dreams. With a positive attitude anything is possible.