02/19/2026
January (sometimes affectionately called “Quitter’s Month”) is behind us 😅✨ New Year’s resolutions may fade, but what if we start thinking about goal-setting differently?
🌱 Developmental science shows that goals work best when they’re flexible, focused on growth (loving the journey, not just the finish line), and built together, especially for children.
Swipe/read on for evidence-based insights on how collaborative goals and a growth mindset can support motivation, learning, and wellbeing for kids (and adults)! 💛🧠
Hashtags:
LifelongLearning
Works cited:
1. Smiley, P.A. and Dweck, C.S. (1994), Individual Differences in Achievement Goals among Young Children. Child Development, 65: 1723-1743. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8624.1994.tb00845.x
2. Hutchins, N., Jirout, J. (2026). Understanding Motivation in Early Childhood: Disentangling the Links Among Curiosity, Mindset, and Goals. Behavioral Sciences, 16(1), 54. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs16010054
3. Costa, U. M., Brauchle, G., & Kennedy-Behr, A. (2017). Collaborative goal setting with and for children as part of therapeutic intervention. Disability and Rehabilitation, 39(16), 1589–1600. https://doi.org/10.1080/09638288.2016.1202334
