Building Your Intention Board

As we begin to move through the New Year, one of the biggest conversations we have with our Abram’s Bed families is about the goals and dreams they have for the new year. Like many families, with every dream there is difficulty in making them a reality. From talking with other families with special needs, we have found one popular way to help keep you and your family’s goals top of mind, daily, through developing a vision board.

This is a great project for kids with “ISMS.” There are some excellent therapeutic moments involved in making vision boards: processing, organizing, fine motor, sensory, just to name a few. Then there is the social component and communication aspect as everyone shows and shares their boards, promoting self-esteem.

What is a vision board you ask? A vision board is simply a collage of pictures, words, and objectives, showing the things you wish to achieve this year. Here are 5 simple steps to get you started! Take your time over a weeks period to make this a fun project.

1. Set goals and prioritize.

First sit down with paper and pen and think about your goals for the coming year. This initial step is the big brain dump and includes the big goals (get healthy and strong, learn how to meditate, take the family on a trip to Florida) to the little wish list type of stuff (get a new vacuum cleaner), intentions (be more mindful, connect with my family better), and words for the year (clarity, joy, peace).

2. Write goals and ideas on posterboard

Start writing your goals and intentions for each area directly on the poster board. This will later get covered over with collage images so I don’t worry about how it looks right now. This part helps you round out your goals. For example if your initial brain dump focusing on finances and health, you are now reminded to consider relationships, skills, etc.

3. Find images and words for your vision board

Search for and cut out images and words that embody your goals and/or just speak to you. We love this step! Go through old magazines or catalogs and clip everything you like—colors, words, interesting images—but also be on the hunt for images and words that relate to the goals you are making. This is a great way for your kids to get buy in on setting good goals for the year.

4. Sort and arrange your images and words

So, with your poster board in front of you, and your pile of images at hand, go through the images and decide what belongs on the poster board and place it roughly in the section it will go. Continue through the pile of clippings.

5. Glue and display!

Hang your new vision board on the wall where you will see it regularly! The act of creating it is important, but so is seeing it regularly. Once your collage is complete, some have theirs laminated at Kinko’s or Staples.