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The Power of Choice

June 17, 2009 by notjustcute Filed Under: Positive Guidance and Social Skills Leave a Comment

bjearwicke - childDuring the preschool years, children have a need to assert their independence.  Giving them choices when it’s feasible feeds that need, and can stock up points in an account of sorts, to draw upon when choices are not negotiable.  When children feel like they already have power, they are less likely to demand it through tantrums. 

Think of the ways you can invite children to make their own choices.  “Which barrette do you want to wear?”  “Which center do you want to explore?”  “Do you want 1, 2, or 3 apple slices?”  Be careful when you’re phrasing the choice, to offer only those scenarios you are truly willing to accept.  Don’t ask, “Which shoes do you want to wear?”  if you are not willing to let him wear his plastic rain boots.  Narrow down to only acceptable choices, two or three, therby giving him the choice of suitable options.  Few things incur the wrath of a child like offering a choice, only to take it back.

Allowing children to feel that sense of power that comes from making their own decisions can also diffuse a situation where they may feel powerless.  Instead of having a fight over whether or not your child will get dressed, allow your child to choose her own clothes if she can do so in a timely manner.  If she chooses not to, her clothes will be chosen for her.  Most children will want to assert their power of choice.  Giving them an appropriate opportunity to choose can divert their attention from situations where there is no choice.  Think about the areas where you are willing to let your children take the wheel and make the choices, and also where you are not.  Wearing pants to school may not be negotiable, but your child could choose which pair to wear. 

Be careful not to offer choices where there is none.  When I did my 6th grade student teaching, I had a supervising teacher who pointed out my tendency to follow up a reprimand with “OK?”.  “You’ll be staying after class for 10 minutes, OK?”  “You’ll need to move to that seat, OK?”  To me it was rhetorical, but my teacher pointed out that to a child, I was offering a choice I wasn’t really willing to let them make.  What I meant to say, and learned to say, was “Do you understand?” 

There are other ways we unintentionally offer null choices.  Have you ever practiced a skill with a child and said, “Do you want to do it again?”  When you really meant, “Let’s do it again!”  Or how about, “Do you want to come inside?”  meaning, “It’s time to go in now.”  Then there’s always, “Why don’t you finish up your dinner and then we’ll have dessert?”  If you wonder why children argue these points, it’s because our wording has told them it’s negotiable!

 Giving children choices in small things, and allowing them to experience the consequences, good and bad, gives them the necessary experience to make much bigger decisions in the future.  When leaving their grandparents’ house on a cool night recently, our boys had the choice of whether or not to put their jackets on before the short drive.  One son chose not to wear his jacket.  From the sounds in the back seat, he had a chilly 5 minute drive.  The next time he was given that choice, he was quick to put his jacket on. 

Experiencing that kind of undesirable consequence doesn’t just teach children specific lessons, like “put your jacket on when it’s cold out”, but gives them experience with decision-making ,and an understanding that their choices have consequences attached.  They begin to learn that in a cause and effect world, they will not be rescued from the effects they have caused.  This is a valuable lesson, and one that, sadly, too many people reach adulthood without learning.  We owe more to the children we love and teach!

Top photo provided by Ben Earwicker.

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Comments

  1. 1

    thehappylainy says

    June 24, 2009 at 6:49 am

    oo what a great artice! I have a 3-year old. I always give him choices like, “What color do you want?” “What kind of pasta do you want for dinner?” “Which jamies u want to wear.” People tell me giving them choices are over encouraging their independence. But I ignored them because I respect the decisions of my child. But now I know that they can help discourage tantrums! I guess I am a good mommy 🙂

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Positive Guidance: Preventative Actions and Positive Reactions « Not Just Cute says:
    October 1, 2009 at 5:26 pm

    […] power forcefully, through aggression or a meltdown.  We build a child’s sense of power by giving appropriate choices  and responsibilities and providing opportunities for success.  Sensory activities  and […]

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  2. Smooth Out Daily Transitions for Your Preschoolers « Not Just Cute says:
    June 9, 2010 at 6:20 am

    […] power struggles by finding ways to give children power through decision-making.  If you ask a child if she’s ready to leave the park and go home, she’ll probably say […]

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  3. When It Comes to Challenging Child Behaviors, Do You Take the Time to CARE? « Not Just Cute says:
    September 29, 2010 at 7:32 pm

    […] needs power, give Emily fair warning before the transition, and then allow her to make some of the choices.  Rather than”put on your shoes“, the child seeking power may respond better to, […]

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I’m Amanda Morgan. Here’s what I’m about…

In early education, there is too much distance between what we know and what we do. I bridge the gaps that exist between academia, decision-makers, educators, and parents so that together, we can improve the quality of early education while also respecting and protecting the childhood experience.

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