But if there ’ s one costly lesson parents can sidestep , it ’ s that motivation can ’ t be manufactured . Maybe you can dangle carrots in front of your child long enough to get them into college , though one college interviewer from a top ten U . S . university once told me she weeds out applicants who obviously only did things their parents told them to . The reality , however , is that you can ’ t dangle carrots forever .
The people who find the most satisfaction and success in life are those who discover their own goals , build the confidence and grit to pursue their goals and see them through . As parents we can play a huge role in helping our kids take the first step towards creating a fulfilling and accomplished life : we can ask them what they want to achieve . And we can listen and support them .
Goals are the precursor to every achievement or accomplishment . And the reason goals are so important in a young child ’ s life is because it helps her identify what she wants . She then learns to be decisive and channel her energy . Furthermore , rather than letting her day pass by unremarkably , goals help a child measure progress towards the things she cares most about . In short , goals keep you motivated and accountable . •
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