10 Simple Goal-Setting Activities to Inspire Your Child in 2025

As we kick off a brand-new year, it’s hard to miss all the chatter about resolutions and fresh starts.

But it’s not just adults who can benefit from setting goals—kids can too! Whether your child is 7 or 17, setting goals is a great way to boost their confidence, give them a sense of achievement, and support their emotional well-being.

In this blog, we’ll share fun, simple activities to help your child set goals they’ll actually be excited to work on in 2025.

Why Goal Setting Matters for Children

Goal setting teaches children essential skills like planning, perseverance, and self-reflection. It also provides a sense of purpose and accomplishment.

Achieving small goals triggers dopamine (the feel-good hormone), reinforcing positive habits and boosting self-esteem.

However, goals must be realistic and broken into achievable steps. Overly ambitious goals can be overwhelming and negatively impact confidence—just like the gym memberships we all forget about by February!

How to Help Your Child Set Goals

Before jumping into goal-setting activities, here are some foundations to remember when it comes to goal setting with children:

• Involve Your Child: Let them take the lead on their goals. Ownership increases motivation and commitment.
• Keep Goals Simple and Realistic: Encourage one or two small goals rather than an overwhelming list.
• Break Goals Into Steps: Help your child create a clear path to success by identifying manageable steps.
• Reflect on the “Why”: Ask them what achieving the goal will mean and how it will make them feel.
• Encourage Visualisation: Imagining success makes it more likely to happen.

10 Simple Goal-Setting Activities

1. Create a Goal Ladder

Visualising the steps to a goal can make the process less daunting.

• Draw a ladder or staircase with the final goal at the top.
• Write small, actionable steps on each rung.
• For example, if the goal is to learn piano, the steps could include practicing scales, learning new chords, and playing a simple song.
• You child can then add a sticker or tick each step they have achieved - it's a great way to see their progress.

2. Family Bucket List

This is a great activity to involve all the family in!

• Create a bucket list of things your family wants to achieve or experience in 2025.
• Write these on slips of paper to place in a jar or create a colourful poster for the fridge.
• Include a mix of fun experiences (e.g., a trip to the zoo) and personal goals (e.g., completing a big puzzle).

3. Backward Goal Setting

This reflective activity builds confidence by showing your child they can achieve great things with effort.

• Ask your child to write down a significant achievement from last year (e.g., passing a test).
• List the steps they took to reach that success.
• Use this as a blueprint for future goals.

4. Vision Boards

This one is great for creative, hands-on learners.

• Use magazines, books, or printouts to create a collage of goals and aspirations.
• Discuss what each picture represents and how it ties to their goals.
• Display the vision board somewhere visible to keep them motivated.

5. Three Stars and a Wish

This simple reflective exercise helps children identify strengths and growth areas.

• Write down three things they’ve excelled at this year.
• Add one “wish” or area for improvement.
• This exercise builds confidence while encouraging growth.

6. A Day in the Life

Help your child visualise an ideal day.

• Walk through a typical day, identifying tasks or challenges.
• Discuss how small changes could make it smoother or more enjoyable.
• Write it down and revisit it as a mini goal-setting exercise.

7. Weekly Goal Check-Ins

Turn goal setting into an ongoing activity.

• Set aside time each week to discuss goals as a family.
• Reflect on progress and identify one small step for the coming week.

8. SMART Goals

Teach your child to set SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) goals.

• For example, instead of “Get better at maths,” try “Practice multiplication tables for 10 minutes a day for two weeks.”

9. Explore the “Why” Behind Goals

Understanding the motivation behind a goal can increase commitment.

• Ask questions like: “What will achieving this goal mean to you?” or “How will you feel when you succeed?”
• Encourage them to visualise or draw their answers to make the process engaging.

10. Share and Succeed

Encourage your child to share their goals with someone they trust.

• This could be a friend, teacher, or family member.
• Sharing creates accountability and provides a support system.

Additional Tips for Success

• Celebrate Progress: Acknowledge and reward small wins along the way.
• Create a Positive Environment: Use encouraging language to keep their confidence high.
• Adapt Goals When Necessary: If a goal feels out of reach, revisit and adjust it together.

Goal setting isn’t just about achieving tasks—it’s about fostering a growth mindset, building confidence, and developing skills that last a lifetime. With these fun and simple activities, you can help your child turn their dreams into achievable goals, setting them up for success in 2025 and beyond.

Start small, encourage often, and watch them shine!

If you’re looking for even more ways to support your child’s emotional well-being and resilience, we’re thrilled to announce the relaunch of our Emotions First Course in 2025!

Designed for both primary and secondary levels, this 8-week program helps children understand their emotions, develop self-regulation skills, and build the confidence they need to thrive.

👉 Want to learn more or secure a spot? Visit our website or get in touch today to find out how Emotions First can help your child reach their full potential.

Find out more about ways to boost your child's mental and emotional wellbeing in these articles:

• How do emotions impact learning?
• How can I support my child's mental health and develop their emotional literacy skills?
• 5 ways to maintain your family's mental health
• How can meaningful connections support your teen's mental health?