Teach Kids To Live Life By Design, Not Default

Don’t you just love back to school season?! The weather changes, everybody is back on a bedtime schedule, the next season of America’s Next Top Model starts :O), and best of all…those kids are back in school! As we say on Twitter Woot-Woot!!

Well I congratulate you if you made it through summer. If the kids have been driving you crazy for the last 2 or 3 months, everything is about to come into focus.  Yes I know there’s going to be a game every weekend, and some kind of practice, but you can use this to your advantage.  But in the midst of all the school shopping from the endless school lists I have one question.

How have you prepared your kids to live a life by design?

If you haven’t thought about this much, it’s ok, because that’s why you’re reading this blog post.  I have some quick tips for helping you help your kids get into the game of life while winning in school.

1. Once per week have a planning meeting with your kids, especially high schoolers.  Have them write for you a number of goals they set for themselves this year.  There’s something about writing things down, and doing it in your own hand.  It’s more convincing that way and even more achievable.

2.  Discuss strategies to meet their handwritten goals.  Help your child see what activities or habits have to change to get them to their highest level.

3.  Get a visible planning calendar that you can post on a wall somewhere.  Highlight due dates and milestones that you’ve discussed together.  This will help them stay on track and also give a visual of what they are working toward.

4. Every month have a review session.  How’s it going? Help them reassess and adjust as necessary.

5. Ask good open-ended questions that force your child to think and plan on their own.  This won’t work if it’s just your input and your ideas.

6. Don’t have kids in junior high or high school? That’s ok.  Just start right where they are with what they can handle.  For example a preschooler’s goal for the afternoon might be to put toys away properly or learn a new sound or letter.  Sweeten this deal with the appropriate reward of course. :O)

Use this time to focus on some long-term goals for you.  The change of season can be a wonderful reminder to you that you ARE NOT DONE YET.  Be inspired and get a jump on New Year’s Day! What can you start (or finish) right now that you’ve been putting off all summer?  Remember when you lead by example you empower your kids and all those around you to reach higher too!