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5 Simple Steps to Help Kids Reach Goals

The most trusted method for goal setting is the SMART method, which stands for specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-bound goals. We’ve broken the SMART goals tips into 5 easy-to-follow and kid-friendly steps below so you can use this system to crush goals as a family!
  1. Dig Up Details
As your child decides on a goal, remind them to be specific and add details. For example, instead of a goal like, “Learn to bake better,” they can add details like the specific skills or recipes they want to master, such as, “Bake and ice a triple-layer cake by myself.” Being specific can help kids stay focused. Parent’s Part: Give kids a chance to come up with a goal on their own. Offer guidance if your child is stuck, such as suggesting environments like goals for school, but let them decide on the specifics.  
  1. Plan for Progress
Just stating a goal won’t hold anyone accountable if there aren’t clear markers for measuring progress. For kids, encourage them to make a plan to showcase their progress. If we’re using the baking goal as an example, the plan to show progress could be: “I will bake a triple-layer cake for my family.” Parent’s Part: The best way to support progress with SMART goals for kids is to model it for them. Talk about the New Year resolutions and goals you set and share about your progress with confidence and joy.  
  1. Stack Success
Even if goals for kids are specific, they can still seem intimidating. Help your child break goals into smaller steps. These steps can be thought of as “goal blocks” that will stack up to help kids reach a bigger goal. For example, “goal blocks” for our baking example could be:
  • Practice baking a single-layer cake
  • Practice icing layers of cake
  • Make a test triple-layer cake
  • Make the final triple-layer cake for the family
Parent’s Part: Help your child see that even if a goal seems big, breaking it down into little steps can make it possible to achieve.
  1. Consider Challenges
Once all the “goal blocks” are laid out, encourage your child to consider if any challenges make this goal unrealistic right now. Will schedules conflict with the work that needs to be done? Is it a goal that might need to wait until they’re a little older or bigger? Parent’s Part: Be careful not to squash your child’s dreams. Adults can be guilty of telling our kids their ideas are too big, so simply help ensure their goal is age-appropriate and safe.  
  1. Tackle a Timeline
Help kids reach every “goal block” with a timeline that keeps their goal and every step in between time-bound. Set reasonable deadlines for each step so that kids have a step-by-step plan to reach their bigger goal. You can even make it visual with this Kid-Spiration board activity! Parent’s Part: Discuss the importance of visualizing goals for kids to achieve them. Explain that seeing each step clearly makes goals easier to work toward. Let us know how your family New Year resolutions go. We hope this 5 step SMART goals template makes goal setting for kids easier so all their 2024 dreams can come true!

Frequently asked questions

What do you put in a kids pretzel baking kit?

No recipe card or pre-measured ingredients that are placed inside any of our baking kit call for or include nuts of any kind. But some of these ingredients have been produced in a facility that also processes nuts, soy, sesame seeds, and gluten. So it's very possible that trace amounts of these potential allergens may be found in some of our baking kit ingredients.

Why should I use a pretzel baking kit?

No recipe card or pre-measured ingredients that are placed inside any of our baking kit call for or include nuts of any kind. But some of these ingredients have been produced in a facility that also processes nuts, soy, sesame seeds, and gluten. So it's very possible that trace amounts of these potential allergens may be found in some of our baking kit ingredients.

Are your pretzel baking kits kosher?

No recipe card or pre-measured ingredients that are placed inside any of our baking kit call for or include nuts of any kind. But some of these ingredients have been produced in a facility that also processes nuts, soy, sesame seeds, and gluten. So it's very possible that trace amounts of these potential allergens may be found in some of our baking kit ingredients.

Do your pretzel baking kits include nuts?

No recipe card or pre-measured ingredients that are placed inside any of our baking kit call for or include nuts of any kind. But some of these ingredients have been produced in a facility that also processes nuts, soy, sesame seeds, and gluten. So it's very possible that trace amounts of these potential allergens may be found in some of our baking kit ingredients.

What equipment do I need for a pretzel baking kit?

No recipe card or pre-measured ingredients that are placed inside any of our baking kit call for or include nuts of any kind. But some of these ingredients have been produced in a facility that also processes nuts, soy, sesame seeds, and gluten. So it's very possible that trace amounts of these potential allergens may be found in some of our baking kit ingredients.

Can I send a pretzel baking kit as a gift?

No recipe card or pre-measured ingredients that are placed inside any of our baking kit call for or include nuts of any kind. But some of these ingredients have been produced in a facility that also processes nuts, soy, sesame seeds, and gluten. So it's very possible that trace amounts of these potential allergens may be found in some of our baking kit ingredients.

What age should a child start cooking?

No recipe card or pre-measured ingredients that are placed inside any of our baking kit call for or include nuts of any kind. But some of these ingredients have been produced in a facility that also processes nuts, soy, sesame seeds, and gluten. So it's very possible that trace amounts of these potential allergens may be found in some of our baking kit ingredients.

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