It's Never Too Late

Spring is in the air, and so too is the undeniable feeling that the final lap of the academic year is upon us. Now is an excellent time for your children and/or students to assess where they are, to date, in achieving their academic goals.

If the success rate isn't where they'd like it to be, it's time to ask some tough questions: "Am I studying hard and/or long enough?" "Am I completing my assignments in a timely manner?" "Am I asking for help if I don't understand a concept?" "Am I spending too much time watching TV or playing video games or texting?" "Do I already have 'End-of-the Year-itis' and it's only March!?

Depending on the answers, a reasonable plan can be created to improve performance, with the help of adults, if needed. The plan needs to be targeted and achievable in a short period of time. Although it can be daunting to a child, with your encouragement and support, he/she will be able to tackle the challenge.

It is important to explain to your child/students that goal setting is not an end unto itself but rather a fluid endeavor. They must constantly be looking at their goals throughout the year and assessing the extent to which they are achieving them. If the answers turn out to be less than satisfactory, it's time to re-assess. What needs to be modified, eliminated or recreated?

Although typically associated with the start of the school year or calendar year, goal-setting is appropriate, and beneficial, at any time.

Goal-setting keeps one motivated and motivation is a character trait that serves you well in all phases of your life: as a child, as a teenager, as an adult, or even as a retiree who was determined to write a children's book about character values!