Building Young Goal-Setters: A Simple 12-Week System for Kids (Ages 6–8), Episode 52

Happy New Year! For the Love of Parenting podcast and What's Up Wednesdays are back! Hope you enjoy today's episode.

Teaching children how to set and achieve goals is one of the most valuable lessons parents can offer. On today's episode we will be using the principles from the book, The 12 Week Year (authors: Brian P. Moran & Michael Lennington) and adapting them for young children, parents can instill foundational life skills like time management, responsibility, and perseverance. This step-by-step guide focuses on the 6-8 age group, showing how short-term, actionable goals can make goal-setting fun, manageable, and educational for young learners. "So, come on!"

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Remember, as parents, do your best—there are no perfect parents, but countless ways to be loving and supportive. Signing off from the For Love of Parenting podcast. Thanks for listening. Until next time.

Transcript

Podcast Title: Building Young Goal-Setters: A Simple 12-Week System for Kids (Ages 6–8)

Intro Summary: On Today's episode we are focusing on an exciting and practical method of goal setting for your 6-8 year old.

Happy New Year! Welcome back to the For the Love of Parenting Podcast! I really missed you guys but needed the extra time to rest and revamp my podcast as well as components of my business, Pregnancy Concepts. I have some exciting things coming in 2025. Starting with my new podcast cover art. 

So, please stay tuned as I roll out things throughout the year. Today’s, episode is sort of a spin-off on episode #5, Making Your New Year's Promise Stick: A Guide to Effective Goal Setting. But instead of focusing on goal setting for parents, I’ve decided that today we’re diving into an exciting and practical method for goal setting, teaching young children how to set and achieve goals using the 12-week system. This system has been adapted from the book The 12 Week Year by Brian P. Moran and Michael Lennington.

 So, let’s explore how a simplified version of the 12 Week Year system can help kids, ages 6 to 8, develop important skills like focus, perseverance, and problem-solving—all while having fun! 

Teaching kids how to set and accomplish goals can shape their confidence and growth, but most goal-setting systems feel too complex for young minds. That’s where this 12-week approach comes in! It’s designed to make achieving goals approachable and exciting for little ones, broken into manageable steps that hold their attention.

Step 1: Choose a Goal They’re Excited About

Start by helping your child brainstorm a goal they’ll truly enjoy. Whether it’s learning to play a simple song on the piano, building a LEGO project, or reading their first chapter book, the goal should be:

• Specific (e.g., “Learn 20 sight words” instead of “Get better at reading”).
• Measurable (e.g., “We’ll learn 5 words each week.”).
• Fun and engaging—it should spark their curiosity or bring joy.

Involving your child in choosing the goal ensures they feel invested and motivated from the beginning.

Step 2: Make Progress Visual

Kids love visuals! Create a progress tracker, like a colorful chart or calendar, to map out their 12 weeks. For every mini-goal or milestone achieved, they can add stickers, draw smiley faces, or attach small photos. The tracker provides tangible evidence of progress, which boosts their excitement and keeps them motivated.

Step 3: Celebrate Weekly Wins

Set aside a regular check-in time—whether it’s over breakfast on Saturday mornings or during bedtime on Sundays. Use this time to ask:

• What did they enjoy about the week’s progress?
• Did anything feel tricky or frustrating?

Recognize their efforts, no matter how small, with something they’ll appreciate—a sticker, a fist bump, or a little dance party in the living room. Consistent encouragement helps keep their spirits high.

Step 4: Tackle Obstacles as a Team

Every now and then, your child may fall behind or feel unmotivated. When this happens, resist the urge to lecture or pressure them. Instead, approach challenges as a team:

• “What do you think would help us finish this goal?”
• “Should we try something new next week?”

Problem-solving together teaches them adaptability and that it’s okay to ask for help.

Step 5: Celebrate the Finish Line!

At the end of the 12 weeks, celebrate their achievement with something special. This could be a family movie night, a favorite meal, or even just dedicating a moment to talk about how proud you are of their hard work. Use this time to reflect:

• What did they enjoy most about working on this goal?
• What was their biggest challenge, and how did they overcome it?
• What’s a new goal they’d like to work on in the future?

By focusing on their achievement and the lessons learned, you’re encouraging a positive, growth-focused mindset.

So, my final thoughts on setting and achieving goals might feel like a big concept for little kids, but by making it manageable, visual, and fun, your 6- to 8-year-old can develop important life skills early on. The 12-week system provides just the right balance of structure and flexibility to meet them where they are developmentally.

Thanks for listening to today's For the Love of Parenting podcast episode. If you try this system with your kids, I’d love to hear how it goes! Share your success stories and ideas on our website, where you’ll find this and many other resources.

Remember: Your support, encouragement, and a dash of fun make all the difference. Until next time, take care!