My husband and I were having a review on our parenting goals we had set for the year 2023 and appreciating the milestones we have achieved together as parents. There were many accomplishments we are proud of. However, we observed certain aspects of our children’s lives that call for encouragement and additional work and attention. One of the decisions we are taking is to focus more on their strength, and from there we can address their weaknesses. We are developing strategies to achieve our set goals. Yes, that is why we are parents.
Why am I sharing this story? No one walks into a future they cannot see. These set goals are like a blueprint to guide us through the year.
I want to believe that you have outlined your goals for the year—what you aim to accomplish and the intentional impact you want to make. As a parent, alongside your personal goals, consider developing individualized goals for each of your children. Your parenting journey should be deliberate and intentional. Whether you have one child or five, create a roadmap for each of them. Everyone deserves a clear path to follow this year.
Here are few areas you need to consider in goal setting:
Spiritual goal: Let your child learn new age-appropriate scriptures. Teach your child gospel songs, supply them with the lyrics so they can sing with understanding. Introduce quiet time to your child and ensure they follow through; this will help build intimacy with their God.
Academic goal: Prioritize reading. Identify areas where your child is struggling academically and help them conquer those challenges. Set targets and reward every milestone.
Moral goal: The character formation of your child is pertinent to the actualization of other goals. Teach your child values. Every new week you can pick a value you want your child to imbibe and find ways to teach the child. Let that value for the week be seen on a daily basis. Model it, teach it, read about it and experiment it.
Social and emotion’s goal: The world is evolving, and one of the greatest skills we need to empower our children with is collaborative skills. They can’t collaborate if they can’t socialize. Intentionally teach social skills, expose your children to meaningful environments and individuals. Encourage them to socialize and collaborate. Create activities that bring your children together with others, involve them in school competitions, debates, and group projects.
Health and wellness. Promote a healthy lifestyle for your child by prioritizing fruits and vegetables over junk food. Support your child, especially teenagers, in maintaining good hygiene practices. Foster a moderate consistent exercise routine, as even a small amount can contribute to overall well-being. Make these habits a part of your family’s daily life.
By the end of 2024, what can you say about these areas of your child’s life? Will you reflect and appreciate your milestones and accomplishments, or will you reflect and wish you had intentionally followed a roadmap? Truly, no one arrives at a future they cannot see. Having written these goals, it’s certain that even with a 40% effort, if you follow through, you will be glad you did by the end of the year. And ofcourse, remember, there is room to achieve a higher percentage, and the right time is now. Rise up and be the agent of transformation God has called you to be in your child’s life.
However, I have developed a guide titled “LIFE ALARM…a Routine Checklist for Children and Teenagers”. This guide will help you set routines for your child, these routines are a roadmap to actuallizing the set goals. You can buy the guide here, click here to buy
I hope the insights I have shared will help make your intentional parenting journey worthwhile this year. Happy new year!
Much love
~Sandra Ani