| Parenting Advice for Goal-Setting: | | | | You want her to create a positive feeling word. Let's |
| "Champions aren't made in the gyms. Champions are | | | | pretend she says, "Confident." Tell her to take a |
| made from something deep inside them - a deep | | | | moment or two and experience a confident feeling |
| desire, a dream, a vision." Muhammed Ali, an American | | | | while mentally picturing the music stand with her music. |
| boxer | | | | Third Parenting Tip for Teaching Goal-Setting - Say "I |
| Goal-setting is a mental sport. Champions see, sense | | | | am": |
| and say their goals. Why not teach your child how to | | | | Tell Emma to make up a goal sentence beginning with |
| become a champion by rehearsing the vision, the | | | | the words, "I am." By beginning the sentence with "I |
| feeling, and the words in one magic moment? | | | | am," Emma is telling her brain that she is playing |
| The Goal-Setting Problem: | | | | confidently at the concert right now. Next ask her to |
| Let's say your Emma loves to practice her flute. At | | | | complete the sentence. For instance, she might say, "I |
| home her gentle music sends peace throughout the | | | | am playing my flute with confidence." |
| house. Her teacher wants her to play a solo at the | | | | Goal-Setting - Putting it Altogether: |
| school concert. Emma's a nervous wreck just thinking | | | | Now it's time to put the picture, the feeling, and the |
| about it. What can you do to calm her down? How | | | | words together in a single moment. This could take |
| can you help Emma build a winning attitude? | | | | several tries to accomplish. Here's how: |
| First Parenting Tip for Teaching Goal-Setting - See it | | | | Tell Emma to imagine seeing the music stand with her |
| Clearly: | | | | music. Then ask her to see them with a confident |
| Ask Emma to see clearly what her eyes will see | | | | feeling. When she's done, tell her to see the music |
| when playing her flute at the concert. Perhaps she'll | | | | stand and music with that same confident feeling while |
| say, "the crowd of adults and kids." That picture could | | | | saying, "I am playing my flute with confidence." |
| increase her nervousness. You might suggest she see | | | | Goal-Setting Summary: |
| her music stand with a sheet of music. If she likes your | | | | When Emma can see, sense, and say her goal |
| suggestion, tell her to take a moment and see it clearly. | | | | altogether in one moment, tell her to practice it every |
| Second Parenting Tip for Teaching Goal-Setting - | | | | night before she falls asleep and before she rises |
| Sense it Actively: | | | | each morning. This rehearsal is the mental sport that |
| Ask Emma to create the feeling she would like to | | | | prepares her for becoming a champion. |
| have when looking at her music. If she says, "I don't | | | | Why not unleash the champion within your child's |
| want to be nervous," ask her for the opposite of | | | | character? All it takes is practicing a clear vision with a |
| nervous. If she answers, "not scared," keep asking. | | | | confident feeling and positive words. |