Goals can also help teenagers learn to plan ahead, own mistakes, improve organizational skills, and instill a sense of achievement. However, not all goals are created equal and proper steps need to be taken to accomplish goals.
1. Focus on Quick Wins to Get Started
For example, saving a substantial amount of money may seem daunting and unattainable. A quick win would be to sign up for a savings account. That one step makes them closer to their goal than they were before.
2. They Want Freedom to Set Their Own Goals; Provide Suggestions & Structure
Encourage goals to be ones inside a teenager’s control, rather than somebody else’s. For example, replace the goal “get the lead in the school play” with “have my audition monologue completely memorized.”
If you’ve agreed this is a cost the teenager will be required to cover on their own, you can help them calculate how long it will take to make the money, whether from an allowance or a part-time job.
Many people start their first jobs as teenagers. It’s fun to use disposable income as soon as it hits a bank account, but it’s better to use some of the money towards both short-term and long-term goals.