forget pets! Younger kids may say they want to play with out images that appeal to you. You can even cut out words
the family pet more often. or phrases. For example, if your child’s goal is to play with
School: The stated goal can be simple. Keep a log of
when homework is due to stay more organized and avoid
late assignments, or do homework for 30 minutes each day
instead of saving it all for the weekend.
Spiritual: For families who pray, a goal of saying
grace as a family at dinnertime is one idea. If you are
not religious, perhaps set a goal such as “meditate for 10
minutes each day” or “keep a gratitude journal” where
you write down five things you are thankful for each day
could be goals.
the dog more, cut out images of dogs. A beach image is a
great reminder that you would like to travel to Hawaii. Be
sure to have kids' magazines available. If you don’t find
the exact image you want, you can always browse images
on the internet and print those out.
7. Build the board. Once you have a stack of images,
open a file folder and lay it open flat on your work surface.
Arrange and rearrange images and words in a way that is
pleasing to your eye. You could use the left side for goals
and the right side for dreams if you wish. Using a glue
stick, paste your images onto the file folder. Once all of
Fun: In this category, ask kids about activities they would the images are glued in place, you can use markers to add
like to do in the upcoming year. Would they like to go color or more words. Be sure and write the date on the
to a park once a week or see a new movie each month? back of each board and keep them each year. It can be fun
Consider including travel in this category. Is there a place to look back on what you wanted in the past, and to see
they would like to visit? what goals and dreams came to be.
Remember to try and not tell kids what goals they should 8. All together now. Once everyone has created their
choose. Offer gentle guidance by asking questions and own boards, consider doing a family vision board. If you
offering suggestions, but don’t push even if you are dying have the space to display it, use a larger base such as a
for them to choose better homework habits as a goal! Kids poster board (or a poster board cut in half) for this project.
need to own their goals and dreams for a vision board to Go through the same steps as you did for the personal
work. boards. This can be a fun way to collaborate as a family,
5. Dream on. The other part of a vision board can be
about dreams. Dreams are things you or your children
and discover what every family member wants to do or
achieve in the coming year.
would like to be or do in the future. Does your son want 9. Share your work! Be sure to place the boards
to be a veterinarian someday? Do you want to travel where they will be seen by the owner at least once a day.
somewhere internationally? In this category, you can write Next to the bed, or even near the bathroom mirror are
down your wildest dreams! possible locations. Same goes for the family board. Be sure
6. Start crafting. Once everyone has written a loose
it is in a central location where everyone will see it and get
inspired.
list, it’s time to start looking for images that represent
those goals and dreams. Flip through magazines and cut
“
REMEMBER TO TRY AND NOT TELL KIDS WHAT GOALS
THEY SHOULD CHOOSE. OFFER GENTLE GUIDANCE BY
ASKING QUESTIONS AND OFFERING SUGGESTIONS ...”
14 | S T. J O H N S parent M A G A Z I N E