What's your vision?

It's January, so everyone is on a health kick or cleaning out kick. Certainly folks are making resolutions. 

As an advocate for those with special needs I encourage them to create a vision board at this time of year instead of making resolutions. I think I heard the other day that resolutions are only kept by 10% of the folks who make them. 

However, vision boards are different. A vision board allows someone to be creative in different ways. A child, or adult, can choose any medium they are comfortable with. For example, I have created a vision board electronically and then use it as my screen saver.  Looking at it every day reminds me of my goals and wants. But it also reminds me to give thanks for the blessings in my life. 

Our students can benefit and learn to self-advocate more if they are self-aware. A vision board allows this to happen. It can be created on paper with magazine cut outs and pictures. It can be created with poster board, markers and drawings. Or let their little digital hands go crazy building one in Publisher or PowerPoint. 

The most important step when creating a board with your child is to remind them to set goals that are realistic and attainable. Have them share why they are choosing photographs or words for their board. You may learn a lot about your child when creating a board with them. 

You can even take it a step farther and create a family vision board where everyone places their goals and blessings on one board. 

Make sure that the vision board is displayed somewhere your child will see it daily. Encourage them to revisit it and make decisions about their path. Show your child that paths change too. Vision boards can be rearranged, added to, and even have things removed. There are no rules.

My vision board for 2019 shows my family photos, I am reminded to stop and give gratitude for them every day. I have a picture of a couple at the beach...because not only do I LOVE the beach but want to make sure I plan to get there more often. The words on my board are reminders... family ( because I am grateful); joy (because I have learned to surround myself with people and things that spark joy); grow (because I never want to be stagnat); Learn and Lead (because if I do both I help those around me...a good leader is always learning); blog (because I want to devote myself to writing more and reaching more).  The final photos are those of a boy talking to someone on a computer to motivate me to start this new method of reaching students via online tutoring. Teachers pay teachers, my webpage, the computer and coffee cup, travel image and the retirement picture were on my board last year. I have kept them on because it is still a work in progress. I happily have included them because I know progress has been made. For example, I have started copywriting all my creations and my account to start selling on TPT. I have revamped the webpage now that I have finished my certification.  My computer and coffee cup are there to remind me to focus on my goals and do something to get closer to them daily. Travel...well you can never travel too far or too much. And finally the retirement picture because that's the stage we are in our lives...saving for it and working towards it. 

​Take a few minutes to sit with your child and ask them what their vision is. Giving them the tools to put it down on paper (or computer) will help them process and talk about it. For a child it could be achieving the next Karate belt, participating in a club, picture of playing outside, making friends, learning a new skill, participate more in a family chore etc...And don't forget to include gratitude pictures too. 

Happy New Year! And cheers to improving our vision for 2019!