Teaching Kids How to Set Goals, and How to Actually Accomplish Them

Goal-setting, and actually following through on the goals we set, can be difficult for adults and children alike. We can all stand to practice principles of goal-setting more, especially if you are aiming to be more consistent and disciplined this year (see our previous post, “Our 5 Words for the New Year”). There are a few tips that Gillis Education teaches our students, beginning as early as second and third grade.

1. When you decide that you want to accomplish a specific goal, ask yourself, “What smaller, more digestible tasks do I need to get done in order to accomplish my bigger goal?” Small, achievable “to-dos” makes the larger goal reachable. For instance, if your child says that one of their goals is to become a better reader, you may want to help them set a goal of reading 10 minutes per day or 60 minutes per week. You all can use a journal or agenda book to track their progress.

2. Make goal-setting fun by using visualization techniques. Grab a poster or a piece of cardboard, magazines, newspapers, and your creativity, and make a vision board. Actually visualizing what accomplishing their goal looks like in real life will help them to take the necessary steps to get there. This is an activity we love doing with our students throughout the year!

3. Encourage consistency and persistence by reminding your child that some goals are difficult, but just because obstacles may pop up, it is worth it to keep putting your best foot forward to reach those goals.

4. Finally, you are your child’s first role model. Show them what setting goals, and achieving them, looks like. Talk to them about your own personal and professional goals and explain how you plan to tackle them.

We hope these words of advice help you and your family on your goal-setting journeys for the new year. Don’t forget to take time to celebrate the small wins along the way!

The Power of Play: How Play Stimulates Brain Development in Children

The power of play in early childhood cannot be overstated. Play not only helps children physically, it is a child’s natural way of learning and exploring the world around them. It allows children to use their imagination, creativity, and problem-solving skills in a fun and engaging way. Play also helps to develop important social-emotional skills, such as communication, cooperation, and empathy. Children learn to share, take turns, and collaborate through play. They express their feelings, emotions, and ideas through play. Over the next several months, Gillis Education will highlight the many benefits of play and how you and your family can incorporate play in small, yet impactful ways.

There are several different types of play, each with its own unique set of benefits. In this blog, we cover just a few main types of play.

• Independent Play: Independent play is when children play alone and engage in activities without adult supervision or interaction with others. Through independent play, children develop a sense of self and autonomy.

• Parallel Play: Parallel play is when children play alongside other children, but do not interact with them.

• Associative Play: Through associative play, children play together and interact with one another, but without a specific goal or activity in mind. This type of play encourages communication and social skills.

• Cooperative Play: Cooperative play is when children work together to achieve a specific task or goal. They collaborate, share ideas and resources, and problem solve. This type of play is especially important for building problem-solving skills and teamwork.

• Competitive Play: Children engage in competitive play when they are involved in activities with the goal of winning or outperforming others. This is great for sportsmanship and self-regulation.

• Constructive Play: Constructive play involves building materials such as blocks, legos, or other manipulatives to create structures or designs. Constructive play helps children develop their spatial awareness and fine motor skills.

What types of play do your children typically engage in? How do you incorporate play into your child’s day?

The 5 Words We're Focusing on in 2023

Welcome to 2023! Can you believe that we are already halfway through January?

Each year, like many of you, I create a vision board using old magazines and newspapers, cutting out words and images that represent my personal and professional goals. I take time to think about what I want to accomplish over the next several months and use the vision board as a springboard for visually manifesting those goals. 

This year I decided to do the same thing for Gillis Education. I sat down and thought through programs and initiatives I want to spearhead this year with the Gillis Education team. I reflected on the products and services that are working and where there are opportunities for reform. But, I also spent a lot of time thinking about what our students and parents truly need. There were five words that came to mind: consistency, focus, discipline, efficiency, and grace. These words resonated with me because I believe the students we work with can benefit from learning more about these concepts and putting them into practice in the classroom. The parents we work with can use strategies to reinforce these critical concepts at home. And I believe that these words are important for me to incorporate in my everyday life as a mom of two early learners, as an attorney fighting for civil rights, and as the owner of a small business. 

Over the next few months, I’ll be creating blogs and social media content that dissects each one of these words. I’ll break down what each of these words mean and what they look like in practice for students and parents. For instance, how can we teach our students to be more consistent? What are some effective ways to teach students how to focus in the classroom and at home? How can we all be more efficient with our time? 

Stay tuned! I look forward to going on this journey with you to becoming more consistent, focused, disciplined, efficient, and graceful in 2023. 

Cheers!

Tiffany