As 2019 comes to a close, it’s a great time to start thinking about our vision for 2020. Embarking on not just a new year, but an entirely new decade can really bring to mind those dreams we’ve put off for so long.
When you sit down and begin to pen those new year’s resolutions, here’s a novel thought! Why not include your children?
By the time a child hits the age of nine or ten (and some much younger!), they are generally able to start putting goals to paper and crafting a plan to see them through. If we start this process when they are young, it serves as not only a wonderful bonding experience, but a useful skill they’ll take with them into adulthood.
By sitting down and teaching them to work through their thoughts and make plans for the future, you are giving them a gift that will last far longer than anything else they’ll receive this Christmas.
How can you help your child understand goal-setting in a way that is fun and doesn’t feel like a chore? There are many ways to do this and I’m not sure there’s one “right” or “best” way. However, we certainly have a great recommendation!
You can spend an afternoon making vision boards together!
Vision boards are beautiful to look at and so much fun to create! Plus, the process of crafting a vision board can be beneficial for children, no matter their learning style.
How is this so? Well, let’s break it down.
Learning styles can vary widely, but generally fall into three major categories – visual, auditory, and kinesthetic. Most people are some combination of two of these, or even all three. Usually, there is a dominant style that determines the format in which you learn best.
Vision boards are a simple project that can be tailored to fit well within any of these styles and are therefore appropriate for all types of learners.
Besides that, they’re fun!
This goes without saying. Vision boards serve as a daily reminder of the goals we’ve set and are determined to see through.
Seeing our vision boards each morning is highly motivating and a great way to encourage success!
At first glance, the act of creating a vision board doesn’t seem to serve an auditory learner. However, that is not the case at all. When a child is putting together a vision board with an adult they trust and look up to, there’s a lot happening beneath the surface.
The act of verbally processing thoughts, feelings, and plans out loud is supremely important for an auditory learner.
Talking through their challenges and goals is every bit as important as the finished product.
When you have a child who is a hands-on learner, creative projects are a wonderful way to meet that need. Crafting a visual reminder of their goals for the coming year is so helpful with this learning style.
Let them explore their creativity and create a beautiful expression of what they hope to do and be in the coming year.
At the end of the day, a project like this is a great way to really connect with your child while giving them the tools they need to create change in their everyday life.
Luckily, this project is not only insanely inexpensive, but it’s also highly customizable. You only need a few supplies to get started, but the sky is the limit on what you can create.
Supplies:
-poster board
-old magazines
-colored paper
-markers
-scissors
-glue
-fun extras – glitter, paint, etc.
Well, we could give you a step-by-step list of directions, but really the process is simple. Set aside an afternoon or evening that you and your child can spend some time together without interruption. Then, gather your supplies and get to talking and crafting.
Let loose and have fun. At the end of the day, this is about having a good time with your tween or teen and connecting with them in a new way.
This is a really great time to talk through things they’ve maybe struggled with in recent months (slipping grades, squabbles with friends, etc.) and come up with workable solutions. Let this help build a bridge to strengthen the relationship with you and your child and open the door for more conversations like these in the future.
That’s what it’s all about – relationships.
A simple project like this is a low-key way to improve your relationship with your tween or teen while preparing them for the future by teaching them to set goals and make a plan to see them through.
Hopefully, crafting vision boards will become a new year’s tradition you and your child both look forward to for many years to come!
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