Setting and achieving goals is a crucial part of finding success in the performing arts, yet many teens find it challenging. As a parent of a teen in the performing arts, you may find yourself confused about why your teen struggles with goal-setting and how to help them, especially when they verbalize the desire to accomplish something yet fail to follow through with the necessary steps to make it happen.
The Teen Brain: A Work in Progress
Your teen’s brain—as you are probably well aware—is still developing. The prefrontal cortex, where executive functioning skills are housed, is not fully developed until the mid-twenties. Executive functioning skills are responsible for planning, decision-making, attention, organization, and setting and achieving goals.
This contributes to teens’ tendency to live in the moment, focusing on immediate rewards rather than long-term benefits. This “here and now” approach can make it difficult for them to appreciate all the steps needed to achieve a future goal. Your awareness of this as their parent can help guide your support of their goal-setting.
Lack of Experience
Teens’ limited life experience impacts their planning skills. They haven’t faced as many challenges or seen the long-term outcomes of various decisions that you have. This lack of experience makes it hard for them to foresee the consequences of their actions or lack of actions on achieving their goals.
For example, while your teen may want to land a leading role in a school play, they may significantly underestimate the amount of practice and preparation needed. They might not realize that achieving such a goal requires not just extra effort but consistent effort over weeks or even months.
Overwhelming Expectations
Teens today face extremely high expectations from parents, teachers, and even themselves. These expectations can be overwhelming, leading to anxiety and fear of failure. If your teen is experiencing unusual amounts of pressure, they may avoid setting any new goals or set ones that are too easy to avoid additional stress or disappointment.
In the performing arts, the pressure to excel can feel intense. Teens often imagine they must always perform perfectly, which contributes to burnout or a reluctance to set ambitious goals.
Poor Time Management Skills
Time management is a learned skill, and many teens haven’t had enough practice to master it. They might struggle to prioritize tasks, estimate how long things will take, or break down large projects into manageable steps.
Your teen may plan to practice their instrument for an hour each day but then find that homework, social activities, and other commitments leave little time for practice. Without strong time management skills, it’s easy for goals to fall by the wayside.
Distractions Everywhere
Teens today face more distractions than ever before. Social media, video games, and other digital distractions can make it hard for them to focus on their goals. These distractions can eat up valuable time and make it difficult for teens to stay on track.
For instance, your teen may set a goal to finish a dance routine but end up spending hours on their phone instead. This constant pull of distractions makes it hard to maintain focus and commitment to their goals.
Lack of Self-Discipline
Self-discipline is crucial for goal achievement, but it’s something many teens struggle with. The ability to delay gratification and stay committed to a task can be challenging, especially when there are so many immediate pleasures available.
Teens might understand what they need to do to achieve their goals but find it hard to resist temptations. This lack of self-discipline can lead to procrastination and incomplete tasks.
Emotional Roller Coaster
Teen years are often marked by emotional ups and downs. Hormonal changes, peer pressure, and the struggle for independence can create an emotional roller coaster. These emotional fluctuations can affect your teen’s ability to set and achieve goals.
When your teen is feeling anxious or overwhelmed, they may find they lack the motivation to work towards their goals. On the flip side, during periods of high excitement, they might set overly ambitious goals without a realistic plan to achieve them.
Helping Teens Develop Goal-Setting Skills
While understanding the challenges teens face is important, it’s equally valuable to know how to help them develop better goal-setting skills. Here are some practical tips on how to help support your teen.
Encourage Realistic Goal Setting
Help your teen set realistic and achievable goals. Encourage them to break down larger goals into smaller, more manageable steps. This approach makes goals seem less daunting and provides a clear path to success.
For example, if your teen wants to improve their acting skills, help them set specific, measurable goals such as attending acting classes, practicing monologues weekly, or auditioning for small roles.
Teach Time Management
Time management is a vital skill that can be improved with practice. Teach your teen how to prioritize tasks, create schedules, and stick to deadlines. Encourage them to use tools like planners, calendars, or apps to keep track of their commitments.
Help them understand the importance of balancing different aspects of their life, including school, extracurricular activities, and leisure time. This balance can prevent burnout and keep them motivated.
Provide Support and Encouragement
Support your teen’s goals by providing resources and encouragement. In addition to attending their performances and celebrating their achievements, celebrate the smaller moments. Your involvement at all levels shows that you believe in their abilities and are invested in their success. Structure and support can make a huge difference in their achievement.
However, be mindful of not adding too much pressure. Structure should consider their goals in multiple areas and consider their individual personality. Your support should be positive and motivating, not a source of additional stress.
Foster Self-Discipline
Self-discipline can be developed over time with practice. Encourage your teen to set up routines and stick to them. Help them understand the importance of consistency and perseverance in achieving their goals.
Discuss strategies for overcoming temptations and staying focused. For instance, setting specific times for social media use or creating a dedicated study or practice space can minimize distractions.
Model Goal-Setting Behavior
Teens often learn by example, so modeling good goal-setting behavior can be highly effective. Share your own goals with your teen and discuss the steps you’re taking to achieve them. This transparency can provide a practical example of how to set and work towards goals.
Show them that achieving goals often involves overcoming obstacles and setbacks. Your resilience and determination can inspire them to stay committed to their own goals.
Help Them Learn from Failures
Failure is a natural part of the learning process. Encourage your teen to view failures as opportunities to learn and grow. Discuss what went wrong, what they can do differently next time, and how they can use the experience to improve.
By developing a growth mindset, teens can become more resilient and better equipped to handle challenges. This mindset can make them more likely to set and achieve future goals.
Create a Supportive Environment
A supportive home environment can make a significant difference in your teen’s ability to set and achieve goals. Create a space where they feel comfortable discussing their aspirations and challenges. Listen actively and offer guidance without being overly critical.
Encourage open communication and let your teen know that it’s okay to seek help when needed. Whether it’s academic support, emotional guidance, or help with planning, being available and supportive can boost their confidence and motivation.
Practical Goal-Setting Strategies for Teens
Here are some practical strategies to help your teen set and achieve their goals:
Set SMART Goals
Encourage your teen to set SMART goals—Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. This framework can help them create clear and actionable goals.
For example, instead of saying, “I want to be a better dancer,” a SMART goal would be, “I want to learn and master three new dance routines by the end of the semester.”
Break Goals into Smaller Steps
Help your teen break down larger goals into smaller, more manageable steps. This approach makes it easier to track progress and stay motivated.
For instance, if their goal is to perform in a school play, smaller steps might include attending auditions, practicing lines daily, and seeking feedback from a drama coach.
Use Visualization Techniques
Visualization can be a powerful tool for goal achievement. Encourage your teen to visualize themselves achieving their goals. This mental practice can boost confidence and motivation.
Have them imagine the details of their success, such as the feeling of performing on stage, the applause from the audience, or the satisfaction of mastering a challenging piece of music.
Set Deadlines and Milestones
Setting deadlines and milestones can help your teen stay on track. Encourage them to create a timeline for their goals with specific dates for achieving each milestone.
For example, if their goal is to improve their singing skills, they might set milestones for learning new songs, attending vocal lessons, and performing at a local event.
Track Progress and Celebrate Achievements
Regularly tracking progress can help your teen stay motivated and focused. Encourage them to keep a journal or use an app to record their achievements and reflect on their progress.
Celebrating small achievements along the way can boost their confidence and motivation. Acknowledge their hard work and celebrate their successes, no matter how small.
Conclusion
Knowing how to support Your teen’s goal-setting in the performing arts can be a key factor in their overall enjoyment and success. The performing arts create additional challenges when it comes to setting and achieving goals. Their developing brains, lack of experience, and the pressures they face can make goal-setting within their art a daunting task. However, with your support and strategies, teens can learn to set realistic goals, manage their time effectively, and develop the self-discipline needed to succeed in the arts.
As a parent, your role is crucial in guiding and supporting your teen through this process. Your understanding of the challenges they face and providing the tools and encouragement they need gives them an extra boost towards achieving their goals. Whether it’s in the performing arts or any other area of their life, these skills will serve them well into adulthood.
