Summer is a wonderful time for children to rest and recharge. It can also be a great opportunity to continue building important life skills in fun and meaningful ways. One simple way to encourage growth over the summer is to work with your child to choose 2-3 meaningful goals for them to work towards.
When children learn how to set goals, break them into smaller steps, and work steadily toward success, they develop valuable lifelong skills. Skills that will serve them well such as problem-solving, perseverance, planning, self-awareness, and self-confidence. Even more importantly, accomplishing a goal gives children a sense of pride and ownership in their progress!
Sample Summer Goals
Read on for a variety of goal categories and examples that you can adapt to fit your child’s age, interests, and ability level:
- Physical: Take swim lessons. Learn to ride a bike. Swim across the pool. Complete a family walk/ run, or practice catching and throwing a ball.
- Communication & Social: Order food independently. Greet peers appropriately. Make weekly phone calls to family members, or participate in a summer camp or group activity.
- Creative: Learn a simple song on an instrument. Complete a craft project, paint or draw weekly. Write and illustrate a short story.
- Organizational & Independence: Organize toys or clothing, follow a morning routine independently, pack a backpack without reminders, or help with laundry and chores.
- Financial & Life Skills: Run a lemonade stand. Learn to count money, save for a special purchase, or practice paying at a store.
- Educational: Read a targeted number of books. Practice handwriting or math facts, write postcards, or complete a summer reading challenge.
- Household & Community: Help cook a meal, water plants, walk the dog, volunteer, or learn important safety information like phone numbers and addresses.
Once goals are chosen, help your child break them into smaller, manageable steps. Visual charts, checklists, and calendars can help keep children motivated and engaged.
Most importantly, remember that progress looks different for every child. The goal is not perfection. It is helping children build confidence, independence, and pride in what they can accomplish through practice and persistence. Don’t forget to celebrate your child’s accomplishments at the end of the summer! Whether it’s a special outing, certificate, photo collage, or family celebration, recognizing their hard work helps children feel proud of what they achieved.
Clinically reviewed by: Karen Pieters, M.S., CCC-SLP
