10 Tips to Achieving Family Goals in 2025

Helping kids set goals for the new year is a wonderful way to build lifelong skills and strengthen family bonds. Family goal setting, especially around New Year’s, allows everyone to support each other’s growth, dream big together and celebrate achievements along the way.

To make the process developmentally appropriate, engaging and meaningful for the whole family we’re sharing the following tips.

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Setting Family Goals: 10 Key Tips

1. Explain the Importance of Goal Setting: Introduce the idea that goals are exciting, personal achievements to aim for. Use examples to show how goals can help everyone grow, improve and have fun together.
2. Make it a Family Tradition: Use New Year’s as a time to set individual and family goals, creating a shared experience that builds togetherness. Consider one or two family-specific goals, like doing a fun activity weekly to bond over shared successes or doing a family game night once per week.
3. Set Age-Appropriate Goals: Tailor goals to each child’s developmental level. Younger kids can work on simple, daily tasks like brushing their teeth without reminders, while older kids might set goals around hobbies or personal projects.
4. Introduce SMART Goals: For older kids, break down goals using SMART criteria (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-bound). Teaching them how to set detailed, realistic goals helps them understand how to follow through.
5. Create Visual Reminders: Use charts, checklists or vision boards to make the goals more tangible and exciting for kids. Placing the goals somewhere visible helps them stay engaged and track their progress.
6. Break Big Goals into Small Steps: Help kids take on big goals by breaking them down into smaller, achievable steps. This approach reduces overwhelm, builds confidence and allows them to feel successful with each milestone.
7. Incorporate Regular Check-Ins: Schedule family check-ins, like weekly dinners or monthly chats, to review everyone’s progress. This routine builds accountability, offers encouragement and lets family members celebrate one another’s progress.
8. Teach a Growth Mindset: Emphasize the importance of trying your best and persevering through challenges. Praise their efforts, resilience and any growth along the way to foster confidence and motivation.
9. Reward Progress: Set up a rewards system for consistent effort and accomplishments, which could include verbal praise, a sticker chart or family fun days. Recognizing progress, big or small, reinforces motivation.
10. Celebrate Together at Year-End: Hold an end-of-year family celebration to recognize everyone’s hard work, reflect on the year and set new goals. This builds a positive outlook on goal setting, making it a tradition that kids look forward to each New Year.

By incorporating these tips, goal setting becomes an opportunity for families to bond, build life skills and nurture each other’s dreams, creating lasting traditions that everyone can look forward to.

For more pediatric healthcare news and stories, visit HopkinsAllChildrens.org/stories.

Dr. Katzenstein is the director of psychology, neuropsychology and social work, and co-director of the Center for Behavioral Health at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital. Dr. Katzenstein was honored for Excellence in Service and Professionalism at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital in the Johns Hopkins Medicine Clinical Awards for 2020.

Previously, Dr. Katzenstein was a private practitioner and Assistant Professor of Neurology at Indiana University School of Medicine/Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis where she provided neuropsychological evaluations, consultations and academic coaching for children and adolescents.

Originally published in the December 2024 issue of Tampa Bay Parenting Magazine.