The holiday season brings concerts, celebrations, and plenty of festive music-making. But at the Meridee Winters School of Music, we’ve learned that the end of the year offers something just as valuable as the performances: a natural pause button. It’s the perfect time to help kids look back at what they’ve accomplished and dream about where they want to go (or what they want to play) next.
How We Do It in Music Lessons
When December rolls around, our teachers build reflection time right into lessons. Here’s what that looks like:
We’ll pull out music from earlier in the year (maybe their song from the last show) and ask students to play it again. They light up when they realize how far they’ve come. “Remember when this measure felt impossible?” we’ll ask. “Listen to how smooth it sounds now.” That tangible proof of progress is powerful.
We’ll also look back on the year and list what we were proud of. What were our big wins? Favorite songs? Funniest moments? What were the challenges and how did we work through them?
Then we flip to the future. We ask students what piece they’re dreaming about playing, or what skill feels just out of reach. Maybe they want to perform at our Year End Shows, or make a killer video for our video contest. Together, we break that big goal into bite-sized steps: how we’ll pick and master a great recital song, or plot out how we’ll create that video.
How Parents Can Use This Approach at Home
The same framework works beautifully for school, sports, friendships, or any area where your child is growing:
Start with the wins. Ask your child to name three things they’re proud of from this year. These don’t need to be huge accomplishments. Maybe they made a new friend, improved their reading level, or learned to ride a bike. Help them see their own growth.
Connect actions to outcomes. Dig a little deeper together. How did they make that progress? Did they practice? Ask for help? Keep trying when it was hard? This helps kids understand they have agency in their own development.
Dream, then plan. What do they want to work toward next year? Once they’ve named a goal, help them break it down. If they want to make the soccer team, what are the small steps? Practice twice a week, work on specific skills, maybe attend a clinic. Just like learning an instrument, big goals become manageable when you chunk them down.
Check in regularly. We revisit goals with students every few weeks. You can do the same at home, maybe once a month over breakfast or during a car ride. Adjust the plan if needed, celebrate progress, and remind them that growth takes time.
The Holiday Gift That Keeps Giving
This holiday season, as you’re celebrating how far your family has come this year and preparing to ring in the new one: take a moment to help your kids see it too. We often wait until New Year’s Eve to set goals, but December is such a great time to look back at the year that just passed AND forward to the next one. When we do this, we get more out of it than just a few temporary resolutions; we give children the tools to become reflective, goal-oriented people who believe in their own potential.
And who knows? By next December, you might be amazed at what they’ve accomplished.
