🎉 New Year, New Dreams: Goal Setting with Kids of Every Age

By The Nanna Blog

New Year’s Eve isn’t just about fireworks and countdowns—it’s a beautiful opportunity to pause, reflect, and look forward together as a family. Including children in gentle, age-appropriate goal setting helps them feel heard, valued, and excited about what’s ahead.

✨ Why Set Goals with Kids?

Goal setting helps children:

• Build confidence and self-awareness
• Learn reflection and gratitude
• Understand effort, patience, and growth
• Feel supported by caring adults

The key is keeping goals playful, realistic, and rooted in encouragement—not pressure.

🧸 Preschoolers (Ages 3–5): Wishes & Wonder

At this age, goals should feel like dreams or fun intentions.

🌈 Try This:

• “Next year I want to learn to…”
• Draw a picture of something they hope to do
• Create a “Wish Star” to hang in their room

Focus: Feelings, curiosity, and joy.

📚 School-Age Kids (Ages 6–12): Small Goals, Big Pride

School-age children are ready for simple, achievable goals.

🎯 Try This:

• Pick one learning goal (reading, sports, creativity)
• Pick one kindness goal (helping, sharing, gratitude)
• Create a “My Year Ahead” poster

Focus: Effort over outcome.

🎧 Teens: Reflection & Ownership

Teens benefit from respect, autonomy, and honest conversation.

🚀 Try This:

• Reflect on the year’s challenges and wins
• Set personal, social, or wellness goals
• Write a private letter to their future self

Focus: Growth, independence, and trust.

👵 How Grandparents Can Join In

Grandparents bring wisdom and warmth to goal setting.

• Share a story about a goal you once set
• Ask thoughtful questions and listen deeply
• Celebrate effort—not perfection

🎆 Make It a New Year’s Eve Tradition

Try goal-setting rituals like:

• Lighting candles and sharing hopes
• Creating a family “Dream Jar”
• Reviewing goals together next New Year’s Eve

With love from The Nanna Blog 💛
Helping families grow closer through intention, imagination, and shared moments.

TheNannaBlog.ca