FIVE STRATEGIC STEPS TO PLANNING FOR YOUR CHILD

Five Strategic Planning Steps For Intentional Training To Raise A Total Child

To raise a total child, a parent, guide or educators must be intentional in their planning approach and execution for each individual child. It is not enough to plan for all the children using a singular plan. It won't suffice as each child is a unique entity original to himself or herself. Understanding your child's temperament and knowing what he or she is capable and incapable of, is very important as it helps you plan appropriately and also helps your plans become effective during execution phase. Now, everyone does this unconsciously but the reason for bringing this for to your purview is to get you consciously doing this the right way following a standard principle that can guide you.

These article provides you that principle. Which is the five keys that will help you to know and plan appropriately for each individual child in your life. They are Observe, Set goals, Communicate,follow up and re-strategize.

1. OBSERVATION: It is important you observe your child to identify and pen down his or her temperament, emotional tendencies, areas of strength and weakness, areas that require urgent attention in character and attitude. You also need to observe that child to discover what works best for the child. It is important to note that every child is a mini adult from birth, so you must drop your bias and prejudice you may have learnt consciously or unconsciously growing up yourself as you observe your child and ensure you put child in your status as you observe him or her. This first key point must not be handled with levity as it set the tone for the plan, execution and resultant effect in the child planned for. Observation of your child can be a lifelong duty but you may need to set a particular time frame for this to make it easy for you for the purpose of setting clear goals.

2. SET CLEAR AND SMART GOALS: Having observed your child at a set time, you need to set clear goals for the child. At the drawing board, our plans for that child must also reflect the golden SMART rule that guards planning world i.e. the plan must be clearly Specific, clearly Measureable, clearly Attainable or Achieveable, clearly Relevant to ensuring your child is total and that it is has clearly stated Timeline. I usually advice that you put your plan in a tabular format putting your observations into play.

3. COMMUNICATION: Once the goals are set in place you need to communicate your plans with all stakeholders involved. Starting with the child you are planning for. Involve the child by sitting him/her and discussing in details the part of the plan that they need to know. You also need to communicate your plans with those involved directly in your child's life such as the teachers, grandparents,extended family members, caregivers, househelps, etc. Let them know what your intentions are and what you expect of them in their relationship with that child. As an educator, you can do the same by carrying the school, parents, classmates, caregivers, helps, other teachers involved along with your plans too.

Please note that you must plan each child individually as each child is unique. If you must plan for them in group, it is ok but it is important you carry out the individualized planning first.

4. FOLLOW UP: Consistently update your plans with feedbacks to ensure you are getting results no matter how small. Little trickle and drop of positive result eventually will overflow and become a mighty river of success. You need to create a column for this on you plan too. This helps you to continually check back and follow up on what you are doing right or wrong, if it's in line with what you planned. If it helps you to easily alter the areas you are getting it wrong or if you can add additional plans that fits into your plan not already on your 'to do list.'

5. RE- STRATEGIZE: As explained above, you need to always revisit your plan to review and revise your plan to fit into consistent changes that is inevitable due to external influences you may not forsee while planning. As you follow up and update your plan, also consistently communicate the changes or adjustment you make with everyone involved too.

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Remember, we are committed to raising a total child on the basis of the 4SRs— A Self-Reliant, Resourceful, Responsible and Resilient child.