Kids are full of ideas, dreams, and potential, but knowing how to turn those ideas into achievable goals doesn’t always come naturally. Many children want to succeed, yet struggle with follow-through, feel discouraged when things get hard, or give up when progress isn’t immediate.

Learning how to set goals is a powerful life skill, especially during the late elementary and middle school years. Goal setting for students at this age helps build motivation, confidence, and follow-through while giving kids ownership over their growth. When goal setting for elementary students is taught intentionally, it becomes less about pressure and more about possibility.

If you’ve ever heard your child say, “I can’t do this,” or watched them lose motivation halfway through a goal, or wondered how they are ever going to learn perseverance, YOU ARE NOT ALONE! Goal setting is a learned skill — one that takes guidance, practice, and reflection to develop.

That’s why I created Help Kids Go For It: Teaching Children to Set Goals, Start New Habits, and Focus on Personal Growth, a character-building goal setting workbook designed to help kids ages 8–12 understand how goals work, why they matter, and how to stick with them over time.

Through thoughtful reflection, creative planning tools, and real-life scenarios, children learn that goal setting isn’t about perfection, but progress, perseverance, and believing in themselves.

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Why Goal Setting Matters for Kids Ages 8–12

The importance of goal setting for students goes far beyond academics. When kids learn simple goal setting methods, like breaking big ideas into steps and reflecting on progress, they begin to see themselves as capable and in control. These early goal setting strategies support resilience, self-belief, and long-term personal growth.

A Workbook That Builds Goal-Setting Skills for Life

This workbook goes beyond simply having children write their goals down. It helps children understand the purpose behind goal setting and gives them tools and strategies to stay motivated, flexible, and confident even when challenges arise.

Inside, kids will learn how to:

• Understand what goal setting really means and why it matters

• Break the big ideas and goals they have into realistic steps

• Build habits that support long-term success

• Practice perseverance and self-discipline

• Reflect on growth, effort, and progress

Through Help Kids Go For It! , kids don’t just think about goals, they develop the mindset and skills to keep going to reach them.

Inside the Workbook: What Kids Will Learn

The Help Kids Go For It! workbook is organized into six guided sections that build on one another, helping children move from understanding goal setting to living it out with confidence. Learn more about each section below.

1 – THE POWER OF SETTING GOALS

Kids begin by exploring what goal setting really means and why it plays such an important role in personal growth. This section introduces goal setting for students as a tool for confidence and motivation, helping kids reflect on what matters to them and how goals support growth.

2 – SETTING MY DIRECTION

Once kids understand why goals matter, they turn their focus toward choosing goals that feel meaningful and realistic. This section helps children explore different areas of their lives, including academic, social, behavioral, and personal, and think intentionally about what they want to work toward.

Through guided reflection and planning activities, kids learn how to move from vague ideas to clear, purposeful goals. They begin understanding the difference between having a goal and having a plan by using a kid-friendly SMART goals planner that breaks big ideas into achievable steps.

3 – STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESS

Setting a goal is only the beginning. In this section, kids learn practical strategies for turning goals into action. They explore visualization, planning, and habit-building tools that help them take consistent steps forward.

Kids practice practical goal setting strategies that help them stay focused, build habits, and keep going when motivation dips. These smart goal setting strategies teach kids how progress happens one step at a time.

4 – OVERCOMING OBSTACLES

Every goal comes with challenges, and this section helps kids prepare for them. Through realistic scenarios and reflection, children learn that setbacks, mistakes, and frustration are a normal part of growth, not a reason to quit.

Kids practice flexible thinking, resilience, and self-compassion as they learn how to adjust their plans, try again, and stay brave when things don’t go as expected.

5 – REFLECTION: AN IMPORTANT TOOL

Goal setting isn’t complete without reflection. In this section, kids learn how looking back helps them move forward. They reflect on effort, progress, and lessons learned, building awareness and confidence along the way.

Through reflection, students learn that goal setting isn’t just about reaching outcomes, but about learning from effort, mistakes, and growth along the way.

6 – KEEP GROWING, KEEP GOING

The final section helps children bring everything together and commit to a goal-setting mindset they can carry into everyday life. Through creative reflection and planning, kids celebrate their growth and set intentions for what comes next.

With tools, confidence, and a belief in themselves, they leave this workbook ready to keep setting goals and chasing whatever they dream of or want to achieve.

Stories That Bring Goal Setting to Life

At the start of each section of the workbook, I’ve recommended a carefully chosen picture book that helps kids see goal setting, perseverance, and growth in action.

At the back of the workbook, you’ll also find a longer list of recommended read alouds for parents and educators to check out from the library or add to their home collection. If you decide to read a few of these titles, these stories help extend your conversations with children and reinforce goal-setting concepts in a meaningful, memorable way.

Here are three of my favorites recommended books for learning about setting goals:

What Do You Do With an Idea? by Kobi Yamada — A gentle, inspiring story that shows how ideas start small and grow with care, courage, and belief. It encourages kids to protect their ideas and take the first steps toward bringing them to life.

The Magical Yet by Angela DiTerlizzi — This story reminds children that they may not be able to do something yet — but with practice and perseverance, growth is always possible. It’s a powerful message about patience, effort, and learning.

The Most Magnificent Thing by Ashley Spires — A determined girl sets out to create something magnificent, but it doesn’t go as planned. This story highlights creativity, frustration, persistence, and the importance of trying again when goals feel hard.

Goal Setting for the New Year: A Fresh Start for Students

The start of a new year is a powerful time for reflection and renewal. Setting goals for the new year helps students reset, refocus, and think intentionally about who they want to become. Whether used as part of classroom new years activities for students or at home as a goal setting for the new year worksheet, this workbook offers meaningful new year goals ideas that go beyond resolutions and focus on growth. Best of all, any day of the year can be the start of a NEW YEAR for your students or child!

HOW TO USE THIS WORKBOOK

Whether you’re working at the kitchen table, having conversations during car rides, or teaching a full SEL curriculum, these activities for goal setting with students are flexible and easy to use. For best results, I recommend engaging with the workbook 3–4 times a week to build momentum and deepen reflection.

FOR PARENTS AND GUARDIANS

• Talk about goals together during everyday moments like breakfast or bedtime

• Celebrate effort and progress, not just results

• Use reflection prompts to help your child notice growth

• Encourage small, achievable steps toward big ideas

FOR HOMESCHOOL OR CO-OP EDUCATORS

• Use the workbook as part of a personal growth or character education unit

• Pair activities with picture books to deepen understanding

• Use reflection pages as writing prompts or discussion starters

• Encourage goal sharing and peer support in group settings

FOR CLASSROOM TEACHERS

This workbook was designed based on my SEL goal-setting lessons and is a natural fit for classroom character education. Whether used during morning meetings, counseling sessions, or SEL instruction, each activity invites students to think deeply about perseverance, self-belief, planning, and growth.

You’ll find opportunities for discussion, reflection, and skill-building woven throughout — helping students develop the confidence and habits they need to set goals and stick with them.

NOTE: The digital download version on TPT includes daily lesson plans, printable student journals, a bulletin board, and a Google Slides component. Consider whether the workbook curriculum or TPT version will best meet your needs.

INTERESTED IN MULTIPLE COPIES?

Contact Tammy at tarheelstateteacher(at)gmail(.)com for a quote for multiple copies or purchase orders for your campus or district.

WHY PARENTS LOVE THIS APPROACH

Families share that this workbook helps kids:

• Build confidence and motivation

• Learn how to keep going when things feel hard

• Develop healthy habits and routines

• Feel proud of effort and progress

Because goal setting isn’t about pressure — it’s about possibility.

feedback for my GOAL SETTING unit from classroom teachers

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ This resource was a breeze to prepare — clear directions and ready-to-use materials meant I could print and implement it in minutes with practically zero prep time. Such a time-saver for busy teachers!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ This is a wonderful resource! I was having trouble keeping all the student goals organized. Using this resource has made the student responsible for keeping track. More student ownership is a beautiful thing!!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ This resource is helping my students set reasonable goals. We are checking in frequently to help them "own" their goals. Thanks!

START BUILDING GOAL-SETTING SKILLS TODAY

Whether you’re supporting goal setting for students at home or looking for engaging goal setting strategies in the classroom, Help Kids Go For It gives children the structure and confidence to turn goals into action.