Considering that fewer than one in ten people achieve their goals, instilling the skill of effective goal-setting in children from a young age can be incredibly advantageous for their future success.
Furthermore, given the persistent uncertainty of the economy and job market, it is crucial to prepare our kids to become competitive job candidates.
By teaching them to set SMART goals, we provide a pivotal tool that offers a significant edge, boosting their confidence and enhancing their prospects in an ever-evolving world.
We have talked a lot about setting goals—and more specifically, setting SMART goals—but we usually only think of the goals we set for ourselves as adults.
But if we want our kids to grow up having a growth mindset–recognizing that with hard work and dedication, they can always achieve a bit more–we need to also focus on teaching kids how to set SMART goals. After all, parents play an important role in demonstrating and teaching children how to set goals for themselves.
In this article, we will examine 15 SMART goals geared toward a younger audience.
But first, we will review SMART goals and discuss why it’s important to teach this concept to children, and then we will get into the examples.
Let’s start by reviewing what SMART goals are.
What Is a SMART Goal?
SMART is an acronym for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound. And the great thing about the SMART goal method is that it can be used for any goal, from building confidence as a child to retiring early as an adult (and everything that happens in the meantime). This is because the SMART goal method teaches people how to break their large ambitions into bite-sized, actionable steps that they can realistically follow through with, meaning they will be more likely to reach their goals.
Let’s look at each component of a SMART goal:
Goals that follow the SMART goal method will help children organize their goals and take the first, second, third (etc.) steps to achieve them.
Why Should Kids Set SMART Goals?
As parents, we want to teach our kids life skills that actually matter, and learning how to create targets for what we want to achieve gives us a vital sense of direction in a life that can otherwise become very…routine.
Setting goals and following through with them can be especially difficult for kids because their mindset is not set on the future like it is for us as adults. Children can be easily distracted from focusing on working toward their goals because it’s difficult for them to recognize the impact that their actions of today may have on tomorrow.
When kids develop the skill of setting SMART goals, it boosts their confidence and offers a sense of purpose as they progress toward their accomplishments. Setting SMART goals also helps children focus and make positive choices about their future. Finally, following the SMART goal method can help keep kids motivated to achieve whatever they aim for as they hit their smaller milestones.
One thing to keep in mind when teaching your children how to set SMART goals is to make sure that you’re allowing them to set their own goals. You want your child to be intrinsically motivated and have a true desire to reach their goal, so while you can help him or her brainstorm and consider some things they want for their future, it’s important to allow them to make that choice ultimately. This will also allow them to have a sense of ownership over their subsequent actions to be successful.
(But if your child is still too young to set goals, helping toddlers establish a good morning routine is a good start to developing good habits.)
Now that we know why we want to teach kids to set SMART goals, let’s look at some examples. If you find an example your child could relate to, you can use it as a framework and alter the details accordingly.
15 SMART Goals Examples for Kids
1. Increase my Reading Lexile Level
“I will increase my reading Lexile level from 620 to 820 by the last day of third grade to finish the year near the top of my class. To accomplish this, I will read for 30 minutes daily during the week and 45 minutes daily on the weekends.”
S: This statement addresses what the child will do to reach the goal, why he wants to do it, and when he will be taking action.
M: This goal can be measured throughout the year by testing where the student’s Lexile is at any given time.
A: This goal is achievable, as a Lexile score of 820 is within the normal range for a 3rd grader.
R: All students need to learn to read to be successful in school, so this is a relevant goal.
T: The deadline for this goal is the last day of 3rd grade.
This SMART goal can serve a dual purpose. Improving their reading skills can also help them enhance their creative writing skills and reap benefits.
2. Make an Extra $10 in Allowance
“I will make an extra $10 in allowance by the end of the month so I can afford to buy a new game. I’ll do this by asking for more responsibilities at home, such as feeding the dog and taking out the trash.”
S: This child will be doing additional chores to reach their goal so he can buy a game he wants by the end of the month.
M: This goal can be measured throughout the month by counting how much money the child has made versus what he usually makes (or would otherwise make had he not done additional chores).
A: This is an age-dependent achievable goal, and the numbers can be changed easily depending on the child and circumstance.
R: Children need to learn to take responsibility for working for things they want, and most children have their eye on something they don’t have, so this is a relevant goal.
T: The deadline for this goal is the last day of the month.
3. Get an “A” in Science
“I will get an A in Science class this year so one day I can help find cures for chronic diseases. I will do this by reviewing my material for 30 minutes every night and meeting with my teacher as needed.”
S: This child will be spending extra time on his Science homework and projects to end the year with an A, which will then set him up to continue to be successful in Science class as he advances.
M: This goal can be measured throughout the year by tracking test, quiz, and project grades.
A: This goal is achievable as long as the child takes the appropriate steps and meets his milestones.
R: This is a relevant goal because the child wants to be a scientist growing up. Studies have found that children are often more successful in their learning when they recognize that their knowledge can benefit others, which is true in this case.
T: The deadline for this goal is the end of the year.
4. Attend Birthday Parties
“I will attend 4 out of 5 birthday parties that I am invited to this year to help me make new friends and overcome my shyness.”
S: This child will attend more social events with other children to get used to being around new people and in new environments. To do this, she will accept invitations to other children’s birthday parties to give herself a chance to be social.
M: This goal can be measured throughout the year by tracking the ratio of invitations she accepts vs. declines and even counting the number of close friends she has made from going to birthday parties.
A: This goal is achievable, as kids’ birthday parties are plentiful, so there will be many opportunities.
R: This is a relevant goal as children develop their social skills during their younger years.
T: The deadline for this goal is the end of the year.
Attending parties is one way of encouraging good social behavior. For more information, read our post on behavior charts for kids.
5. Run a Mile in Under 10 Minutes
“I want to run a mile in under 10 minutes in P.E. during our end-of-semester exam. I will do this by practicing running a mile each week, decreasing my time by 15 seconds per week.”
S: This child plans to run a mile in under 10 minutes by the end of the semester by pushing himself a bit further every week to take time off of his run.
M: This goal can be measured throughout the semester by timing his weekly runs and watching his progress.
A: This is an achievable goal that can be easily adjusted to meet a child’s individual needs.
R: Children all need to participate in P.E. to prepare for a healthy future, so this goal is relevant.
T: The deadline for this goal is the end of the semester.
6. Practice Playing my Musical Instrument
“I will practice playing my instrument for at least 20 minutes per day over the summer and memorize five songs by heart so I can make the band team.”
S: This child plans to practice playing their instrument of choice for 20 minutes a day over the summer because he wants to join the band for the upcoming year.
M: This goal can be measured throughout the summer by timing his practices and counting the number of songs this child learns to play by heart.
A: This is an achievable goal for a child who is dedicated to the process.
R: This goal is relevant for those who enjoy participating in a musical extra-curricular activity..
T: The deadline for this goal is the day of tryouts!
7. Donate and Declutter
“Over the next month, I will spend one hour per weekend sorting through all of my old toys so I can donate toys that are gently used to others and declutter my space.”
S: This child plans to spend one hour each weekend cleaning out his play areas, putting aside toys that can be donated to help other kids and making room for new things.
M: This goal can be measured using time– set a timer each day this activity is set to occur!
A: This is an achievable goal for any child–as most probably have toys or clothes they have outgrown.
R: This is a relevant goal for all children, and it will teach them to be generous to others.
T: The deadline for this goal is in four weeks.
8. Raise my Hand and Participate More in Class
“I will raise my hand and contribute in class at least twice daily to stay engaged and focused on what is being taught.”
S: This child plans to raise her hand twice daily to help her continue paying attention in class.
M: This goal can be measured using the number of times the child raises their hand.
A: This is an achievable goal for any school-aged child.
R: This is a relevant goal for all children to help them be successful in the future.
T: The deadline for this goal is every day when school lets out.
9. Participate in a School Play
“I want to be offered a main part in the school play. I will work toward this goal by practicing my lines for 30 minutes daily until the day of auditions.”
S: This child plans to practice lines for the school play for 30 minutes daily.
M: This goal can be measured with time and the number of days left until audition day.
A: This goal is achievable, as someone has to get the leading role.
R: This is a relevant goal for all children interested in theater.
T: The deadline for this goal is the day of auditions.
10. Sell the Most Girl Scout Cookies
“I will sell the most Girl Scout cookies in my troop by the end of the season to earn the “top seller” award, allowing me to donate the most profits to our troop. I will do this by selling cookies at a designated spot in my area for two hours each weekend with a parent and tracking the number of boxes I sell, ensuring I sell at least 10 more than the top seller did this time last year.”
S: This child will spend two hours every weekend selling cookies to reach her goal of being the top seller of Girl Scout cookies in her troop by the end of the season.
M: This goal can be measured by counting the number of boxes she has sold and comparing the numbers to the top seller from the previous year.
A: This goal is achievable, as one child in the group will be the “top seller” for the season no matter what.
R: This is a relevant goal for those in programs such as the Girl Scouts who are tasked with raising money to help other causes.
T: The deadline for this goal is the last day of the Girl Scout season.
11. Exercise the Dog Regularly
“I will walk the dog for at least 20 minutes after school each day, as long as the weather permits, for the next two months so he can get his exercise.”
S: This goal includes what will be done when it will be done, and for how long the action will be continued. This makes it very specific.
M: This is very measurable with the help of a clock or stopwatch and each day a checkmark can be placed on a calendar.
A: With the addition of the phrase “as long as the weather permits”, this goal becomes completely achievable.
R: Taking the dog for a walk is a wonderful way to achieve exercise, so this goal is very relatable to what is trying to be accomplished.
T: With the mention of twenty minutes a day for two months, the goal has a definitive ending date to work towards.
12. Read More for Pleasure
“I will read one chapter book a month for each of the coming six months.”
S: This goal is specific in that it mentions the type of book, the number of books read per month, and the length of time the activity will be maintained.
M: By keeping a list of the books that have been read, this goal is measurable
A: By taking the time to divide the number of pages by the number of days in the month and staying on track with reading them, this goal is definitely achievable.
R: Choosing a new chapter book from the library each month makes this goal relatable to the overall goal of reading more for pleasure and not just schoolbooks.
T: The activity will take place every six months. This gives a specific ending date for which to aim.
13. Learn to Budget
“I will create jars marked “spending”, “saving”, and “giving” and have my parents help me decide how much money to put in each jar every time I get my allowance for the next six months.“
S: This is very specific. The goal lists how the money will be separated, when it will be put into each jar, where it will come from, and how the amount will be determined.
M: This goal becomes measurable once the amount of money is decided upon. A tally sheet can be used to make sure the determined amount is added each allowance day.
A: This goal is completely achievable. You know the amount of allowance you have to use and getting an idea of how much is acceptable for each category makes it easy to do.
R: This is relatable to the major goal of learning to budget. This is one of the simplest methods in that there is a pre-determined amount of money and only three categories to keep track of.
T: Adding the six-month time frame makes this time relatable.
14. Learn a New Sport
“I will see what sports are available at the YMCA and sign up for one that sounds fun. I will stick with this sport for the entire session.“
S: This goal is specific, although it would be more so if a particular sport were named. There are enough details, however, to make it specific enough.
M: This is measurable because you can easily determine if you have joined one sports group and stuck with it the entire season.
A: This goal is completely achievable as long as there is a local YMCA and parental permission is given.
R: This activity is related to the main goal: you can't help but learn something about a sport if you show up and keep at it.
T: YMCA classes for kids normally last about 13 weeks, making this a timed activity.
15. Learn a Foreign Language
“I will learn ten new phrases a month in Spanish over the next three months to begin learning a new language. I will do this by creating flashcards and having someone test me every week.“
S: This is extremely specific. The goal phrase mentions what language, how the language will be learned, how many words or phrases need to be learned each month, and how long the activity will continue.
M: You make this measurable by stating how many words/phrases will be learned each month and how many months you will do this. The weekly testing adds another level of measurement.
A: This is a perfectly attainable goal. The number of words or phrases is low enough to be manageable, and the total number learned during the three months is a good start to learning a new language.
R: The activity mentioned is very much related to the overall goal that is being worked toward.
T: This statement contains many time measurements. It mentions how often testing will occur, how many words will be learned each month, and how long the activity will be continued.
Now What?
Do your best to encourage your child to pursue their goal. If they want to give up, remind them of the goal's original purpose and why they wanted to achieve it in the first place.
If your child isn’t meeting their milestones, try to focus on the improvement they have made and brainstorm ways to alter your path a bit to be more successful. Teach your child how to give themselves pep talks and be positive about their efforts and progress.
Final Thoughts on SMART Goals for Children
Celebrate your child’s effort and persistence in reaching their SMART goals. If they experience a setback, they should acknowledge the sense of determination they showed while working toward their goal.
Setting SMART goals with kids will help teach them that they can be just a *bit* better each day at whatever they’re working toward in the long run. Use these examples as templates for your own children to help teach them how to set SMART goals and set them up for a successful future.
Few last things:
If you want to “level up” your parenting skills, here is a free 60-minute online class. In it, you'll learn how to get kids to listen without nagging, yelling, or losing control.
If you find your children getting discouraged, one way to help them develop resilience is to teach them how to use affirmations. Here are some great positive affirmations for kids.
Or if you're a kindergarten teacher, here are SMART goals examples you can use to make teaching kindergartners more rewarding.
And if you want more SMART goal ideas and examples, be sure to check out these blog posts:
- 6 SMART Goal Examples for ADHD Students
- 15 SMART Goal Examples for College Students
- 31 SMART Goals Examples for Students of All Ages
- 8 SMART Goals Examples for Building More Confidence
- 9 SMART Goals Examples for Mentoring (Both Mentor & Mentee)
Finally, if you want to level up your parenting skills, then check out this resource that will show you how to get your kids to listen WITHOUT yelling, nagging, or losing control.
Connie Mathers is a professional editor and freelance writer. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Marketing and a Master’s Degree in Social Work. When she is not writing, Connie is either spending time with her daughter and two dogs, running, or working at her full-time job as a social worker in Richmond, VA.
