Nurturing Dreams and Goals in Children and Teenagers

As parents, one of our most important roles is to help our children and teenagers develop a sense of purpose and direction. Encouraging them to dream big and set achievable goals can pave the way for a fulfilling and successful future. Here are some practical tips to guide you in this journey:

1) Encourage Imagination and Exploration

•  By fostering curiosity: 

Encourage your children to ask questions and explore their interests. Whether it's through books, hobbies, or outdoor activities, nurturing their curiosity can help them discover their passions.

•  By providing diverse experiences: 

Expose them to a variety of activities and environments. This can include sports, arts, science projects, and travel. The more they experience, the more they can identify what excites them.

2) Have them Set Realistic and Achievable Goals

•  By starting with small goals: 

Help your children set small, manageable goals. Achieving these can build their confidence and motivate them to aim higher.

•  By teaching them to set SMART goals — Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant/Realistic, and Time-bound. 

This framework can make their goals more tangible and attainable.

3) Be A Role Model

•  By sharing your own goals: 

Talk about your own dreams and goals. Share your experiences, including the challenges and successes. This can inspire them and show that goal-setting is a lifelong process.

•  By demonstrating perseverance:

Show them the importance of persistence and resilience. Let them see how you handle setbacks and continue to strive towards your goals.

4) Provide Support and Encouragement

•  By celebrating achievements:

Acknowledge and celebrate their accomplishments, no matter how small. Positive reinforcement can boost their self-esteem and encourage them to keep going.

•  By offering guidance: 

Be there to guide them through the process of setting and achieving goals. Offer advice, but also allow them to make their own decisions and learn from their experiences.

5) Create Positive Environment

• By Encouraging Growth Mindset: Teach your children that abilities and intelligence can be developed through effort and learning. This mindset can help them embrace challenges and view failures as opportunities to grow.

• By Limiting Negative Influences: Monitor and manage negative influences, such as excessive screen time or negative peer pressure. Encourage positive activities that align with their goals and interests.

6) Teach Time Management and Planning

•  Use tools and techniques: 

Introduce them to tools like planners, calendars, and to-do lists. These can help them organize their time and stay on track with their goals.

•  Prioritize Tasks: 

Teach them how to prioritize tasks and manage their time effectively. This skill is crucial for balancing school, extracurricular activities, and personal goals.

7) Encourage Reflection and Adaptation

•  Regular Check-ins: 

Have regular discussions about their goals and progress. Encourage them to reflect on what they've learned and how they can improve.

•  Be Flexible: 

Help them understand that it's okay to adjust their goals as they grow and their interests change. Flexibility is key to staying motivated and focused.

By nurturing your children's dreams and helping them set and achieve goals, you are equipping them with valuable life skills. Remember, the journey is just as important as the destination. Celebrate their efforts, support their aspirations, and watch them flourish into confident and capable individuals.

Dream Dreams

A big house, a luxurious car, an iPhone, gadgets..these are what many people dream of nowadays. Most of us have these big dreams but we can always start with a small dream. We can even have five or more dreams at any given time. When we have attained that small dreams, we even replace them with bigger dreams as well. Remember, dreams should be realistic, meaning, do not dream of becoming a superhero or going to Mars. Dreams usually depend on our values and personality. 

How to start dreaming our dreams? 

First, we have to make a list of our dreams. Have a note and pen and start writing down as many dreams as you can. Act now and do not delay writing your dreams. You could even have at least 20 dreams or more, later when you achieve or attain them, you can look back if you have fulfilled many of them. Later on, as you go along, you can add or delete some from the list.
Second, we have to stay focused.

We must know our dreams by heart. Create a vivid image and details of your dreams. If you are dreaming of a car, think of the type, brand, and color as well as the model. Possess your dreams as something you shall have, checking on some cars on sale or on display. Imagine that you are driving them in your mind with people important to you. Create your dream board - cut out pictures or draw pictures of your dreams on an illustration board and hang them in a place where you can see them more often, serving as inspiration and motivation to achieve those dreams.

Third, we must categorize and prioritize our dreams. According to Marlo Sanchez in his PinoyBisnes book series, we can categorize our dreams into the following categories: personal dreams, dreams for family, dreams for others, and community. Ask yourselves - Is it a personal dream that you can derive personal satisfaction over dreams for your family? Something that benefits you alone? Is it a dream for your family that would benefit your parents, spouse or children, siblings, or even friends? Is it a dream for a community or others? After categorizing each of your dreams, attach a time factor to each dream - when do you want to achieve them. Then, prioritized which dreams we wanted to achieve first, and so on, by category and time frame.
Lastly and most important, pray for these dreams. In everything that we will do, we should acknowledge Him. Pray for each dream and remember God never wanted His children to suffer, He wanted you to be successful. He knows everything about us, our desires, our own sufferings. Give it to Him and He shall lead our path to those dreams. And when the time comes for each dream to be fulfilled, never forget to give back, to acknowledge the One who made it possible and even those people who helped you through rough times. Blessings are more abundantly given than we can ever imagine.