Making Choices


As adults we make hundreds of decisions every day without even thinking.  We have had practice and understand the consequences of our bad decisions as well as the good.  

 Making decisions does not come naturally to all children.  In the classroom some children will wait for the teachers to choose works for them. They may need support in deciding to have snack and what friend to ask.   If they require assistance they may be hesitant to ask for help.  As their guides we direct them and help them develop comfort in their decision making skills.  We focus on the natural consequences of poor decisions and the joys of good decisions.  

Decision making in general, whether good or bad, takes practice.  At home you can give your child opportunities to make decisions every day.  Encourage them to choose what clothes to wear or what to have for a snack.  Decision making for some children may need to be more structured.   Instead of asking, " what do you want for dinner?", try asking them if they would like pasta or chicken.   Praise good decision but also give your child support on the not so good ones.  Let them see its OK to make a bad decision and emphasize how they could handle the situation in a more positive way next time.  As your childs ability to make decisions increases, so does the confidence in their decision making skills. As they get older and are faced with bigger and more impactful decisions this foundation and confidence could have a profound impact on decision making, such as choosing friends, colleges, riding in cars etc.



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