ABA Goal Bank (8-13 Years Old)

Social Skills Goals

1. Initiate and Maintain Friendships: Learn to initiate interactions and maintain friendships through common interests and activities.
2. Understand Social Cues: Interpret and respond appropriately to verbal and non-verbal social cues in various settings.
3. Respect Personal Space: Recognize and respect others’ personal space, adjusting proximity based on social norms and individual preferences.
4. Share and Take Turns: Practice sharing resources and taking turns in group activities, demonstrating patience and fairness.
5. Cooperate in Group Projects: Participate effectively in group projects, contributing ideas and effort, and valuing others’ input.
6. Navigate Conflict Resolution: Develop strategies for peaceful conflict resolution, including expressing feelings, negotiation, and seeking adult intervention when necessary.
7. Demonstrate Empathy: Show empathy towards others’ feelings and situations, offering support and understanding.
8. Understand and Follow Social Rules: Recognize and adhere to explicit and implicit social rules in various environments (school, home, public places).
9. Practice Polite Manners: Use polite expressions and gestures in daily interactions, demonstrating respect and consideration for others.
10. Engage in Conversational Skills: Use appropriate conversation starters, maintain topic flow, and use closing cues to engage in meaningful exchanges.
11. Interpret Facial Expressions: Understand and react appropriately to a range of facial expressions, linking them to underlying emotions.
12. Adapt to Different Social Situations: Modify behavior and language to suit different social contexts, such as formal events or casual gatherings.
13. Show Gratitude: Express gratitude verbally and through actions, recognizing others’ kindness and efforts.
14. Understand Body Language: Read and convey messages through body language, enhancing communication and understanding.
15. Practice Active Listening: Engage in active listening, showing interest and comprehension through verbal and non-verbal feedback.
16. Develop Friendship Qualities: Identify and exhibit qualities of a good friend, such as trustworthiness, reliability, and kindness.
17. Participate in Reciprocal Conversations: Engage in back-and-forth exchanges, showing interest in others’ thoughts and sharing personal experiences.
18. Recognize and Respect Differences: Appreciate individual and cultural differences, promoting inclusivity and respect.
19. Manage Peer Pressure: Develop strategies to resist peer pressure, making independent and healthy choices.
20. Use Humor Appropriately: Understand and employ humor in social interactions without offending or misunderstanding others.
21. Navigate Online Interactions: Practice safe and respectful behavior in online communications and social media.
22. Understand Social Media Etiquette: Learn the dos and don’ts of social media interactions, including privacy and respect for others.
23. Practice Assertiveness: Communicate needs and opinions assertively, respecting oneself and others without being aggressive.
24. Develop Negotiation Skills: Use negotiation skills to reach compromises in conflicts or to fulfill mutual goals.
25. Understand Non-Verbal Communication: Use and interpret non-verbal signals in communication, including tone of voice, posture, and gestures.
26. Recognize Social Hierarchies and Roles: Understand social dynamics and roles within groups, contributing positively to group identity.
27. Practice Inclusion: Actively include peers in activities, especially those who are left out or new to the group.
28. Adapt Communication to Listener’s Needs: Tailor communication style to meet the listener’s age, understanding, or emotional state.
29. Respect Others’ Opinions: Listen to and respect differing opinions, even when disagreeing, fostering an environment of mutual respect.
30. Develop Leadership Skills: Demonstrate leadership in group activities, guiding actions towards common goals while encouraging team contributions.

Self-Care Skills Goals

1. Master Personal Hygiene Routines: Independently perform daily hygiene tasks, including brushing teeth, showering, and nail care.
2. Dress and Groom Independently: Select appropriate attire for the weather and occasion, dress without assistance, and manage grooming tasks.
3. Healthy Eating Habits: Make healthy food choices and understand the basics of a balanced diet.
4. Meal Preparation Skills: Safely prepare simple meals and snacks, understanding basic kitchen safety and hygiene.
5. Effective Hand Washing: Understand and practice effective handwashing techniques to promote health and prevent illness.
6. Responsible Medication Management: Recognize the importance of taking medication as prescribed, with supervision for understanding and safety.
7. Sleep Routine Adherence: Establish and maintain a consistent bedtime routine that supports adequate sleep for health and wellbeing.
8. Basic First Aid Knowledge: Understand and apply basic first aid principles for minor injuries.
9. Manage Personal Items: Organize and care for personal belongings, including school materials and toys.
10. Safety Awareness: Recognize and avoid potential dangers in various environments (home, school, online).
11. Laundry Skills: Perform basic laundry tasks, such as sorting, washing, folding, and putting away clothes.
12. Personal Space Maintenance: Keep personal living spaces clean and organized, such as bedroom and study area.
13. Time Management Skills: Develop effective time management strategies for daily tasks and responsibilities.
14. Financial Literacy Basics: Understand the value of money, basic budgeting, and saving practices.
15. Bathroom Etiquette: Practice privacy and cleanliness in the bathroom, including proper toilet use and cleanliness.
16. Public Hygiene Practices: Understand and apply public hygiene practices, such as covering coughs and using public restrooms responsibly.
17. Self-Awareness of Health Needs: Recognize signs of illness or discomfort and communicate needs to adults.
18. Sun Protection: Apply sun protection measures, including sunscreen application and wearing protective clothing.
19. Emergency Response: Know how to react in emergency situations, including how to call for help.
20. Physical Activity Routine: Engage in regular physical activity to promote overall health and fitness.
21. Stress Management Techniques: Practice basic stress-relief techniques, such as deep breathing or mindfulness.
22. Navigating Healthcare Appointments: Understand the purpose of healthcare visits and participate actively in discussions with healthcare providers.
23. Personal Safety Skills: Learn and apply personal safety skills, including internet safety and stranger awareness.
24. Environmental Awareness: Practice environmentally friendly habits, such as recycling and conserving water.
25. Nutritional Label Reading: Understand how to read nutritional labels to make informed food choices.
26. Self-Expression Through Personal Style: Express oneself through personal style while understanding appropriate dress codes.
27. Understanding Physical Changes: Learn about the physical changes expected during puberty with an emphasis on health and hygiene.
28. Managing Allergies: Understand personal allergies (if any) and manage them responsibly, including carrying and using an EpiPen.
29. Goal Setting for Health: Set personal health goals, such as increasing water intake or achieving a fitness milestone.
30. Feedback on Personal Care: Seek and respond constructively to feedback on personal care and hygiene from trusted adults.

Behavioral Goals

1. Identify and Express Emotions Constructively: Recognize a wide range of emotions and express them in healthy ways.
2. Self-Regulation Techniques: Practice techniques for self-regulation, including taking deep breaths, counting, or taking breaks.
3. Positive Self-Talk: Develop and use positive self-talk strategies to boost confidence and manage challenging situations.
4. Follow Rules Consistently: Understand and follow household, classroom, and community rules consistently.
5. Manage Frustration: Use strategies to cope with frustration in challenging situations without resorting to negative behaviors.
6. Respect Authority Figures: Show respect towards teachers, parents, and other authority figures through listening and cooperation.
7. Accept Responsibility for Actions: Acknowledge and accept responsibility for personal actions and learn from mistakes.
8. Problem-Solving Skills: Apply problem-solving steps to find solutions to personal and interpersonal challenges.
9. Decrease Interrupting: Practice listening skills and wait for appropriate times to speak in conversations and discussions.
10. Increase Task Initiation: Work on starting tasks without procrastination, using organizational tools as aids.
11. Improve Attention and Focus: Enhance the ability to pay attention and focus on tasks or instructions for extended periods.
12. Practice Patience: Develop patience in waiting for turns, responses from others, and when working on slow-progress tasks.
13. Goal-Setting and Achievement: Set achievable personal and academic goals, and take steps towards accomplishing them.
14. Manage Impulsivity: Learn strategies to think before acting and make thoughtful decisions.
15. Handle Criticism Constructively: Accept constructive criticism gracefully and use it as a tool for personal improvement.
16. Adapt to Changes: Develop flexibility in thinking and behavior when dealing with changes or unexpected events.
17. Build Resilience: Cultivate resilience by facing challenges with a positive attitude and persistence.
18. Practice Gratitude: Regularly identify and express gratitude for people, experiences, and possessions.
19. Enhance Cooperation with Peers: Work cooperatively in group settings, showing willingness to listen to others and compromise.
20. Develop Conflict Resolution Skills: Use effective communication and negotiation skills to resolve disagreements.
21. Practice Mindfulness: Engage in mindfulness exercises to enhance present-moment awareness and emotional regulation.
22. Engage in Reflective Thinking: Reflect on experiences and behaviors to gain insights and learn lessons for future actions.
23. Reduce Negative Self-Talk: Identify and challenge negative self-talk, replacing it with supportive and positive messages.
24. Increase Compliance with Requests: Respond to requests and instructions from adults with timely and positive actions.
25. Develop Stress Management Skills: Identify sources of stress and apply healthy coping mechanisms to manage stress levels.
26. Enhance Emotional Literacy: Expand the ability to identify and name emotions in oneself and others accurately.
27. Cultivate Empathy for Others: Foster empathy by understanding and sharing the feelings of others.
28. Improve Organizational Skills: Develop and maintain systems for organizing personal belongings and academic materials.
29. Practice Assertive Communication: Communicate needs and boundaries assertively, respecting oneself and others.
30. Cultivate a Growth Mindset: Embrace challenges and view failures as opportunities for growth and learning.