Summer is just around the corner!
Your thinking sunshine, relaxing, vacations, and fun!
Your likely NOT thinking growth mindset, SMART goal activities, reflection, and goal setting with your kids...
Don’t worry--you don’t have to plan and schedule every day of the next few months...but it is good to have an idea of the types of things you want to include! And believe it or not, SMART goal setting with your kids can actually make your summer easier.
How? By beginning to teach your kids a growth mindset, they will start to develop a responsibility of how to plan and create specific steps towards a new goal. When your kids are actively engaged with their learning, they are significantly more motivated to achieve a skill!
Why SMART Goals?
Reflection and goal setting are essential skills for kids to develop as they grow. The importance of goal setting for students has been documented time and time again. And SMART goals are perfect for kids because they break down the goal-setting process into easy, manageable pieces that provide a scaffold to success! You can read more about the benefits of teaching goal setting and SMART goals in this post. (You can also grab a free SMART goal poster resource.)
Summer Goals For Kids
So, have you given any thought to what your family’s summer will look like? Now is the time to start considering and intentionally planning what you want your family summer plans to include.
Keeping Up with Basic Skills: Many families enjoy switching up their routines but don’t drop academics altogether. Keeping up on math and reading skills will help your child from forgetting the basics over these next few months. This can be a perfect time to check out your library’s summer reading program or find some fun math games to play!
Unfocused Exploration: There are many ways to foster the joy of learning through the summer but in non-traditional ways. Library programs, 4-H programs, park district programs, camps, online events, and family or individual themed exploration can all spark interest in your children in topics not typically covered during a school year.
Social and Emotional Leaning: Summer schedules typically offer fewer times constraints so extended time can be spent exploring ways to reduce anxiety, incorporate mindfulness, and practice social skills without the stress of a school schedule.
Physical Improvement: There is no better time to strengthen not only your kids' minds, but also their bodies! Try a new skill or sport, you might be amazed at what your children can do. Or improve at something they already know how to do; goals are perfect for increasing strength and consistency.
Time Off-: Of course, you need to recognize when time off is needed for your kids (or you!). Was it a difficult or stressful year of school--would it benefit everyone to have a bit of down for a few days or weeks (or months)? Do what is needed to give your family time to relax and re-energize!
Need Help Getting Started?
Finding Balance
An easy way to bring balance to your summer schedule is to create the expectation that certain things will need to be done every day. We are sharing this free resource in order to help you get a handle on screen time! A little reading, some outside time, a bit of picking up, time for exploring and creating...each letter in SCREEN stands for an activity to be completed before electronics can be pulled out.
Want a more ideas to keep your summer focused?
Try this Summer Goal Setting Mini-Unit. This will help encourage your kids to keep learning this summer and develop a GROWTH MINDSET!
This kit will help guide your children through reflecting on the previous year, explain what SMART goals include, and teach them how to develop, measure, and achieve their own individualized SMART goals. Don't worry we include a comprehensive plan with everything you need-just print and go!
It is always great to have a general idea of what your goals are for summer. Realize that plans can (and often) change and that the path you originally started on might be altered throughout these next few months! Don’t be afraid to change course and take advantage of the AMAZING opportunities that present themselves as you journey through summer. ENJOY!
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