The world is full of endless possibilities. You really can do anything you set your mind to.
However, children and teens can fluctuate between ‘I can do EVERYTHING!’ to ‘I can’t do ANYTHING’.
Both of these scenarios can pose limitations.
For example, kids who have multiple interests may find it hard to follow through on goals when the going gets tough.
Instead, as soon as they face a challenge or obstacle, they may lose interest, give up and move on to something else entirely.
For young people who struggle to believe that they can achieve their goals, they may be stopping themselves from trusting in their capabilities and going for their dreams.
However, there is a way to increase:
- Motivation and determination
- Self-belief and confidence
- Focus and time management
- Responsibility for own outcomes
And this is with a goal-setting vision board.
What’s A Vision Board?
A vision board is a tangible and visual reminder of what you want to achieve.
Using images, words, stickers and craft products; it is a creative representation of your goals and dreams.
By placing a vision board somewhere prominent, it can serve as a regular reminder to keep you motivated and driven to reach your goals.
A vision board can also help you document your progress and provide a real sense of accomplishment when you achieve what’s on the vision board and can replace it with a new goal.
Why Do Vision Boards Work For Kids?
Vision boards can really help children focus on what’s important to them and also instils self-belief.
They get to craft a vision that is really meaningful and important to them, designed in a way that works for them.
For kids, it is important to make sure the vision board isn’t a dream board.
Your child’s wild imagination should be celebrated, but a vision board should focus on realistic goals for the future.
This way, a child can see their progress and be inspired to keep working towards their goal.
How To Help Your Child Create A Vision Board
To create a vision board, you need a large piece of paper or a noticeboard.
When thinking of the size, plan out where you will display the vision board.
The location needs to be somewhere where the child will see it regularly and feel inspired.
- Start With Goals
A goal-setting discussion can be a fantastic way to share dreams and helps caregivers understand what the child truly cares about.
When discussing goals, help your child to focus on the SMART method of goal setting.
This makes sure goals are: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Time-Based.
You can ask questions such as:
- That sounds quite broad, can you split that big goal into smaller goals, so it’s more specific?
- How will you measure your success? (will it be a grade to achieve or a number to focus on?)
- What do you need to help achieve this goal?
- What would achieving this goal help you with?
- When do you want to achieve this by?
- Get Creative
Once the child has decided on the goals they want to focus on, it’s time to find visual representations of each goal.
Cutting up magazines and newspapers can be great for this step.
However, your child may prefer to draw or photograph images to create their vision board.
The image must help to inspire the child to achieve their goal.
For example, if your child’s vision is to score ten goals per season in their Sunday league team, they may want a picture of their favourite goalscorer on their vision board.
- Document Progress
Once the vision board is ready, find ways to measure progress to these goals.
For example, the addition of stickers can help the child see that they’re working on their goal and their hard work is paying off.
Checking off or adding progress to the vision board helps to maintain motivation and creates healthy habits.
A vision board shouldn’t be a set it and forget it project; it should be something that can be seen, used and regularly updated.
If you need support in helping your child to find and achieve the goals that are important to them, Flourished Minds can help.
Our coaching for young people can help remove the blocks, nurture self-belief and help children get clear on what they can and want to achieve.
To find out more, book your free consultation here.
