Description
30 minutes
Embedded Files
Documenting goals even before figuring out a plan for how to achieve them provides focus and can help motivate action. Goals can be anything! They can be large and longer term or they can be small daily goals. Support your Little by helping them identify their goals for the future. You can download the full activity HERE.
Module 2_Goal Setting.pdfInstructions
1. Introduce the goal-setting template.
The goal-setting template provides structure for discussing goals with your LIttle. Once you download the template familiarize yourselves with each category on the template.
2. Discuss the importance of identifying goals.
Discuss with your Little why identifying goals is important. Setting goals can increase motivation, provide a sense of responsibility, allow you to track your progress, provide structure, and allows you to prioritize. Identifying goals can also help us grow our sparks – interests and passions – that provide a sense of purpose.
3. Level set.
Explain that both short and long term, easy and more difficult goals have value. Goals can also span many different parts of life. Whether big or small, goals of all sorts have value because they increase focus and encourage action.
4. Fill out the goal-setting template together.
Take time to reflect on the goal categories, reflection questions, and set goals in the goal setting template. We recommend that both you and your Little complete the worksheet. A great way to support your Little is by demonstrating how you also set goals for yourself and different parts of your life.
5. Reflect.
After completing this activity, reflect on the following questions together:
What did you learn about yourself by identifying goals?
What kind of support do you need to accomplish your goals? Who are your champions?
How can I, as your Big, support you in accomplishing your goals?
Mentor Reflection
The goals we set and feel like we can set for ourselves, whether big or small or short- or long-term, connect to our identities. As part of the goal-setting activity, you have the opportunity to learn more about the goals your Little feels like they do or do not have access to and how their goals connect to their hopes and dreams. Now that you have set goals with your Little, reflect:
What do you notice about your Little’s goals? Did they find it difficult or easy to set goals?
Think about the ways that your Little’s goals connect to their identity. Do their goals reveal anything about their background or mindsets or what they feel they do or do not have access to?
What can you do as their Big to help them achieve their goals? What support might you need to do so?
Tips
Encourage positive goals that can improve your Little’s life, but open yourself up to all kinds of goals. A goal does not have to lead to be one that is future oriented or academically focused, for instance.
Like identifying opportunities, your Little may shape their goals around the types of experiences they feel they do or do not have access to. Keep in mind that their goals may also be influenced by their backgrounds, including their race and ethnicity, socioeconomic status, gender and sexuality, etc.
If your Little is feeling stuck, return to the Identifying and Sharing Sparks activity for some ideas of goals your Little might have aligned with their interests and passions. You might also consider setting a goal together.
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