Set specific, attainable goals to start the year

Now is a great time to set goals with your child for the upcoming school year. Guide your child to be as specific as she can. “Make the honor roll” is a wonderful goal, but it’s broad and unstructured. Help your child be more precise: What can she do, specifically, to make the honor roll? (“I’m going to make sure I complete and hand-in all my homework each week.” “I’m going to meet with my teachers at least once per week after school.”) Setting specific, attainable, and realistic goals will ultimately lead to the broader goal of making the honor roll. And achieving the more specific, “interim” goals along the way will help keep her focused and boost her self-confidence.