Common goals of teenagers include losing weight, getting better grades and quitting a bad habit, reports Teens Health. It's one thing to make a vague goal such as to lose weight and quite another to actually lose 20 pounds. The way that you set a goal and your motivation for achieving your goal will affect your success. Fun goal setting activities can teach teens how to establish goals and reach them.
Learning Goal Setting
Teachers can help teens to learn how to set achievable goals by covering this topic in class. Discuss the difference between unclear goals and achievable goals. Give an example of a vague goal such as, "I want to get better grades," and then show your class how to make this goal more specific and measurable. Change the goal to, "I want to earn a B average on my next report card." Split the teens up into groups and give them five more vague goals. Ask them to change each goal so it's achievable. Have each group share a couple of clear goals they came up with together.
Personal Goal Setting
After teens understand how to set specific goals, they can work on setting personal goals for themselves. Teachers can use this activity in their classrooms, or adolescents can do this activity on their own. The teen should write a list of all the specific, measurable goals she can think of that she would like to achieve within one year. Then the teen should choose one of those goals and write it at the top of a piece of paper. Under that goal she should outline small steps she must take to complete that goal. For instance, if the teen wants to improve on her painting abilities, she might list joining an art class, reading a book on painting and practicing painting every day for at least 20 minutes each day. Ask the teen to post her goal sheet somewhere she'll see it regularly.
Future Letter to Self
Teachers, coaches and group leaders can do this activity with teenagers. Give out a sheet of paper, envelope and pen to each adolescent. After discussing goal-setting techniques, ask the teens to write themselves letters detailing one to five goals they want to accomplish during the school year, soccer season or duration of the group. After they've finished writing the letters, tell them to seal the letters in the envelopes and sign the seal. This way each teen will be sure that his letter wasn't opened or read. At the end of the time specified, such as the end of the school year, hand the letters back out to the teens. Have them open and read them. Ask the teens to discuss their goals and whether they reached them.
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