Summer Goals
Source/Author: Mike Murphy, Headmaster
May 27, 2016
It is never too late to help our children set goals for the summer months. Even if the days and weeks are already planned and scheduled, it is worth the time to be sure our children have priorities they want and could achieve if they focused on the goal(s). Earlier this month I wrote about the importance of knowing how to manage free time and to know how to do good and productive things when we have unscheduled time. This article is intended for children who have the schedules in the models of the Three Bears; too much, too little, just right.
People know that one can have every moment of the day packed with activities and at the end of the week wonder if anything was accomplished. If we are in the habit of making sure that we include our priorities into our busy schedules, more than likely we will end each day and each week with a feeling of some accomplishment or at least progress. Knowing our priorities is the key element in the productivity equation.
Clearly, there is value in learning and developing skills for the intrinsic benefits one gains from these activities. In a perfect world, our children and we would be intrinsically driven. Yet, I accept the pragmatic view that extrinsic motivators drive many people. The very fact that someone, probably a parent, grandparent or guardian is willing to pay for a child to have great experiences should be ample motivation to make the best use of the opportunities. Sometimes adults will go one step further and provide a reward for outstanding achievement. There are plenty of arguments against extrinsic awards but that is another topic and one that authors and researchers like Alfie Kohn have championed for decades.
The point of this article is to encourage children and the adults in their lives to identify some priorities on which to focus this summer. Regardless of the schedules and activities planned for our children and young adults, knowing priorities will enhance the experiences and make better use of the time.
Maybe a goal is to teach financial independence. “You may do activities and buy things only with the money you earn.”
Maybe the goal is to improve an athletic skill. “Commit to 100, 200, 300 ...shots/swings/lifts each day.”
Maybe the goal is academic. “Develop the habit to read, write, solve puzzles or problems for 60, 90, 120… minutes every day.”
Maybe the goal is to take a break. Some kids need to take a break. “Breathe, sleep, do yoga, meditate, daydream, talk with a friend.”
Age-appropriate and specific goals will result in a more productive use of summer days.
Enjoy the summer but keep in mind that the competition is out there trying to get better. We could do the same.
Cheers!
Mike
