Most family goals sound great… and quietly disappear by February.
In this short, honest episode, Justin and Kylie Coulson share why family goal-setting usually falls apart — and the simple shifts that actually make goals work. From kids’ fitness goals to holidays, habits, and hopes for the year ahead, this episode shows how buy-in, accountability, and involvement turn good intentions into real change.
If you want goals your kids don’t just agree to — but actually own — start here.
KEY POINTS
- Why top-down family goals almost always fail
- The power of bottom-up buy-in (especially with older kids)
- How accountability and visible progress keep motivation alive
- Why parents must support goals without becoming the “goal police”
- The overlooked ingredient that makes family goals stick: involvement
QUOTE OF THE EPISODE
“The goals that work aren’t the ones parents announce — they’re the ones families build together.”
RESOURCES MENTIONED
- Family meetings (What’s going well? What’s not? What should we focus on?)
- Happy Families website: happyfamilies.com.au
ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS
- Hold a short family meeting and let kids lead the goal ideas
- Choose one goal that feels challenging but achievable
- Set clear check-in points to notice progress
- Support the system — don’t police the outcome
- Get involved alongside your kids, especially when it’s hard