Make Goals Feel Fun: A Pressure-Free Way for Kids to Set New Year Goals
The New Year often comes with a lot of talk about goals, resolutions, and improvement.
For adults, that can feel motivating. For kids, it can quickly feel confusing or even overwhelming.
At Runner2Runner, we believe kids don’t need more pressure in the New Year. They need permission to grow at their own pace, explore what excites them, and feel proud of effort, not outcomes.
That’s why we created a playful, one-page goal-setting worksheet designed just for kids.
Why Traditional Goal Setting Doesn’t Work for Kids
Many goal-setting tools are built for adults. They focus on:
Timelines
Results
“Fixing” weaknesses
Pushing harder
Kids don’t think that way. When goals feel too serious, kids may:
Choose goals to please adults
Feel discouraged if progress feels slow
Lose interest quickly
Tie success to winning or being “the best”
Instead of motivation, goals can become another source of stress.
A Better Approach: Goals That Feel Like Play
Kids learn best through play, choice, and curiosity. When goal setting feels playful:
Kids take ownership
Effort matters more than outcomes
Confidence grows naturally
Motivation lasts longer
Enter our “My Fun Goals for the New Year” worksheet.
This one-page worksheet walks kids through goal setting in a way that feels approachable and fun.
🎲 Make It a Game!
Using a dice, kids explore different types of goals, Turning goals into a game removes fear and encourages creativity.
A Gentle New Year Reminder
Kids don’t need to become someone new in January.
They don’t need:
Bigger expectations
More pressure
Adult-sized goals
They need:
Encouragement
Play
Movement
Space to grow at their own pace
