Family Goal Setting Guide
As the new year unfolds, there’s no better time to pause, reflect, and plan. At Babble Bees, we believe in the power of setting intentional family goals that align with your values and unique strengths. In this blog post, we’re sharing how you can transform your family’s hopes into achievable goals with our simple, science-backed approach.
Why Family Goals Matter
Family goals are about creating a shared vision that brings clarity, connection, and purpose to your household. When everyone is on the same page, it becomes easier to support one another, celebrate wins together, and tackle challenges as a team.
At Babble Bees, we believe supporting families is the best way to support children.
Why?
Because children thrive as part of a family unit. Using a framework inspired by the ICF (International Classification of Functioning) model, we focus on the big picture: your child’s development isn’t just about individual skills but how they participate and engage within their family and community. By strengthening the entire family system, we create an environment where children feel secure, supported, and empowered to grow.
So what are the steps to family goal setting?
Reflection is the cornerstone of intentional goal-setting. Before diving into what you want to achieve, take a moment to look back.
Ask yourself:
What went well for our family in 2024?
What challenges did we face, and how did we overcome them?
What habits or routines served us well?
This process not only helps you understand what’s working but also gives you a chance to celebrate the little (and big!) victories that keep your family moving forward.
Alignment comes after Reflection
Alignment is crucial in goal setting because it ensures that your goals are in harmony with your family's values. This process brings clarity to what truly matters to your family and highlights your unique strengths.
In our alignment exercise, you’ll:
Identify shared family values using our prompts or create your own.
Define your collective strengths and each family member’s individual strengths.
Map out your supports— Create a visual representation of the people, resources, and networks that support your family..
When your goals are anchored in your family’s values and strengths, they become more meaningful and achievable. It’s like having a compass to guide your family through the year ahead.
Setting Clear Goals is our last and final step
Setting goals is where the magic happens, but it’s important to do it in a way that sets your family up for success. That’s why we encourage using the SMART framework:
Specific: Define clear and focused goals.
Measurable: Track your progress.
Achievable: Start small and build momentum.
Relevant: Tie goals to your deeper "why."
Time-Bound: Add a deadline to create urgency
For Example: Instead of saying, “We’ll spend more quality time together,” set a specific goal like, “We’ll have one screen-free family dinner every week by February to build connection with each other.”
