Build essential life skills with a New Year’s Goal Board
The New Year brings a sense of renewal and an opportunity to set fresh goals. For teens and young adults with intellectual and developmental differences, creating a New Year’s life skills goal board can be an engaging and empowering way to identify, visualize, and measure progress in essential life skills. This activity not only fosters independence but also provides a structured way to track achievements in functional life skills, independent living skills, social skills, and more. In this post, we’ll explore how parents and teachers can teach teens and young adults to create a life skills goal board, complete with practical examples for independent living, money management, career exploration, and safety skills.
Setting Independent Living Skills Goals
Setting realistic goals is crucial for success. Start by brainstorming areas where your child or students want to grow. For example, improving cooking skills, doing laundry independently, or learning to manage a household chore schedule. Use visuals, like pictures or printed words, to represent each goal on the board.
For example, one achievable goal might be learning to prepare three simple meals by the end of March. To implement this, you can break the task into smaller steps: selecting recipes, shopping for ingredients, and practicing each recipe. Provide clear, step-by-step instructions to guide them through the process. Regular practice ensures the skill becomes a part of their routine.
Measuring this goal can involve creating a progress chart where each completed meal is recorded. Celebrate milestones, like preparing the first full meal independently. If the goal isn’t fully achieved, reassess the steps and offer more support or a simpler recipe.
Creating a Weekly Routine
Routines help build consistency. Design a weekly schedule that includes time for independent living tasks, like tidying up their room or organizing personal belongings.
For example, the goal could be organizing the bedroom every Saturday morning. Start by teaching them how to break the task into smaller jobs, like making the bed, sorting laundry, and putting away personal items. Visual aids, such as a checklist, can simplify this process.
Track progress by taking “before” and “after” photos each week to visually show improvement. If setbacks occur, discuss what might have interfered with completing the task and brainstorm solutions, like setting reminders or asking for help.
Building Skills Through Functional Activities
Functional activities like filling out forms are critical. One great resource is the How to Complete a Rental Agreement activity. This hands-on lesson teaches young adults how to read and understand rental agreements, a key independent living skill.
To implement this goal, use practice forms to simulate real-life scenarios. Walk through each section, explaining the terminology and purpose. Encourage your child or students to ask questions to deepen their understanding.
Measure their progress by reviewing completed forms together and noting improvements in accuracy and comprehension. Celebrate successes, such as correctly completing an entire section, to boost their confidence.
Encouraging Self-Care
Self-care is an essential part of independent living. Focus on areas like personal hygiene, grooming, and understanding health-related tasks. For example, create a morning grooming routine goal. Use a visual schedule with steps such as brushing teeth, washing hands, and combing hair. Provide consistent reminders and model each step as needed.
Measure success by tracking the number of days the routine is followed. If they struggle, consider adding incentives, like earning a smiley face sticker for each completed day. Celebrate their progress with positive reinforcement, such as verbal praise or a small reward.
Developing Money Management Goals
Financial literacy is key for independence. Start with simple lessons, such as differentiating between needs and wants, then move on to creating a basic budget. The How to Create a Monthly Budget activity can be a fantastic tool for this.
To implement budgeting basics, introduce the concept of income and expenses using real-world examples. Create a mock budget together, listing items they typically spend money on, like eating out or games. Help them allocate a portion of their allowance or income to each category.
Measure progress by reviewing their budget monthly and comparing planned expenses to actual spending. If discrepancies arise, discuss how to adjust their budget and make better choices.
Practicing Safe Spending Habits
Teach safe spending habits like using cash instead of credit or understanding the cost of items. For example, a goal could be learning to shop for groceries within a $20 budget.
To implement this, plan a shopping trip with a pre-set list and budget. Guide them as they select items and calculate costs. Use visual aids, such as a calculator or price tags, to reinforce the concept.
Track their success by reviewing the receipts and comparing them to the budget. If they overspend, discuss what happened and how to avoid it next time. Celebrate progress when they stay within budget.
Understanding Bills and Payments
Introduce how bills work, like utilities or subscriptions, and how to pay them. A goal could be understanding how to read and pay a utility bill by October.
Implement this by using mock bills to teach them how to identify amounts due and payment deadlines. Practice writing checks or making payments online.
Measure their understanding by testing them with quizzes or practice scenarios. If challenges arise, offer additional guidance and consider breaking the task down into smaller steps.
Saving for Future Goals
Help your child or students set a savings goal for something they want, such as a game or trip. For example, the goal might be saving $50 for a new video game by December.
To implement this, create a visual savings tracker, like a jar or graph. Set aside a small amount weekly and record the progress. Reinforce the importance of delayed gratification by discussing how savings accumulate over time.
Measure success by counting the savings weekly and celebrating when the goal is reached. If setbacks occur, emphasize that saving is a gradual process and encourage them to keep trying.
Exploring Career Opportunities
Understanding how to apply for jobs is a critical career skill. The How to Fill Out a Job Application activity provides a practical way to teach this.
To implement this, use real-world examples of applications and practice filling them out together. Teach them how to answer questions accurately and neatly.
Measure progress by reviewing completed applications for thoroughness and discussing any mistakes. Celebrate milestones, like completing an entire application independently.
Practicing Interview Techniques
Role-play interviews to build confidence and familiarity with common questions. A goal might be practicing answers to five common interview questions.
To implement this, conduct mock interviews and provide constructive feedback. Teach strategies like making eye contact and speaking clearly.
Track improvement by recording practice sessions and reviewing them together. Celebrate growth by acknowledging specific improvements, such as answering a question confidently.
Learning About Different Careers
Introduce various career options through videos, books, or guest speakers. For example, the goal could be to identify three potential career interests by August.
Implement this by exploring online resources or attending a career day event. Discuss the skills and education needed for each career.
Measure progress by having them write a summary of each career, including their interests and potential challenges. Remember to celebrate their discoveries with verbal praise or a small reward.
Gaining Hands-On Experience
Volunteering or internships can offer invaluable experience. A goal might be completing 10 volunteer hours by November.
To implement this, research local opportunities and assist your child or students to sign up. Provide support during their first few sessions to build confidence.
Measure success by keeping a log of hours and activities. Celebrate their contributions with a certificate or a small gift.
Prioritizing Safety Skills
Teach what to do in emergencies, like fires or natural disasters. A goal could be memorizing emergency contact numbers by March.
To implement this, practice dialing numbers and explaining situations during drills. Use flashcards or songs to help memorize important information.
Measure readiness by conducting surprise drills and assessing their responses. Celebrate their preparedness with praise or a small treat.
Navigating Public Spaces Safely
Focus on skills like crossing streets or using public transportation. A goal might be safely using public transportation to travel to a familiar place.
Implement this by practicing the route together until they feel confident. Teach them to recognize landmarks and use maps or apps.
Track success by evaluating their performance on an independent trial. You can do this by observing from a distance or by driving behind the bus. If challenges arise, provide additional practice and reassurance.
Understanding Medication Safety
Teach how to read prescription labels. The How to Read a Prescription Label activity is perfect for this.
To implement this, use real or mock prescription bottles to practice identifying key information like dosage and timing.
Measure understanding by testing them with quizzes or role-play scenarios. Celebrate their progress with verbal praise or a small reward.
Recognizing Unsafe Situations
Help identify potentially dangerous situations, like interacting with strangers. A goal might be learning three ways to say no to a stranger’s request by September.
To implement this, role-play scenarios and discuss appropriate responses. Practice assertive language and body language.
Measure progress by reviewing responses to different practice situations. Reinforce learning with encouragement and recognition.
Staying Positive When Deadlines Aren’t Met
Not meeting a deadline can be disappointing, but it’s a valuable teaching moment. Shift the focus to what was accomplished and highlight any progress made. For example, if the goal was to prepare three meals but only one was completed, celebrate that success and discuss how to build on it. Teach strategies for overcoming challenges, like asking for help or breaking tasks into smaller, more manageable steps. Encourage resilience by emphasizing the importance of trying again and reminding them that everyone’s progress looks different. Celebrate every effort, no matter how small, to keep them motivated.
Share inspiring stories of individuals who faced challenges but succeeded through persistence. Help them reframe setbacks as opportunities to learn and grow. For example, if they struggled with staying on budget, discuss what went wrong and brainstorm solutions, like adjusting spending habits or keeping a closer eye on their expenses.
Celebrating Achievements
Celebrating achievements is essential to reinforcing the value of hard work and persistence. When a goal is met, tailor the celebration to the individual’s preferences. For example, if they reach a savings goal, let them use the money to buy something meaningful to them.
You can also create a visual representation of their success, like adding a star or sticker to their goal board or presenting a certificate of achievement. Sharing accomplishments with family, friends, or classmates can build their confidence and make them feel supported.
For larger milestones, consider organizing a small party or outing that aligns with their interests, such as a movie night or a special dinner. Reinforcing their success not only builds self-esteem but also encourages them to set and achieve future goals.
Visual reminders, like a “Success Wall” filled with photos and tokens of their accomplishments, can serve as a constant motivator. By celebrating each step, you foster a positive attitude and a willingness to tackle new challenges.
Creating a New Year’s life skills goal board is more than just an exercise in setting goals. It’s a pathway to fostering independence, confidence, and resilience in teens and young adults with intellectual and developmental differences. By setting clear, realistic objectives, providing consistent support, and celebrating every step forward, you help them build essential life skills that will serve them throughout their lives. Remember, every small win contributes to a larger journey of growth and success. So, gather your supplies, encourage their creativity, and start the New Year with a plan that inspires progress and joy!
The Adulting on the Spectrum team is excited to hear from you. Please share your experiences and insights in the comments below!
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