Give your child opportunities to practice making decisions
The best way to learn how to make good decisions is by making lots of them. So give your child as many opportunities as you can to make choices.
Young children can decide which healthy items to pack for lunch, or which shirt to wear, for example. Older children can make decisions about more significant things. Of course, you must still set boundaries. For example, your child can decide whether to do science or social studies work first, but it’s not OK to decide to watch TV before working.
Gradually give your child more freedom to make decisions. Keep in mind that children don’t always connect outcomes with the choices they have made, and help your child think about the potential consequences of decisions.
If your child makes a poor decision, sit down and talk about why it didn’t work. Ask, “What would you do differently next time?” Your elementary schooler will be able to draw on this experience when faced with a future decision.
Reprinted with permission from the April 2023 issue of Parents make the difference!® (Elementary School Edition) newsletter. Copyright © 2023 The Parent Institute®, a division of PaperClip Media, Inc.