FOSTERING STRONG DECISION-MAKING SKILLS

Learning to make well thought out, sensible and effective choices is a crucial life skill. Let's look at how to foster this ability in children.

As parents, we hold the key to shaping our children’s future, and one of the most crucial abilities we can instil in them is how to make a good decision. Empowering children with the skills to make thoughtful choices will set them on a path of independence, responsibility and success. Armed with some clever strategies, you should be able to help your children of any age develop their decision-making skills, encouraging them to be responsible and have confidence in themselves.

TODDLERS

The toddler years mark the beginning of a child’s journey towards being able to make sound choices. It might seem a little soon for such a big concept, but it’s actually beneficial to sow the seeds of independence as early as possible. Here are some approaches you can try:

Real world decision-making

Even at this tender age, toddlers are capable of making small choices. Try to offer your little one age-appropriate options. This could mean choosing between two different toys, two bedtime stories or two different ‘tidy-up’ tasks. Although these decisions may seem trivial, they teach toddlers that their opinions matter, whilst the act of choosing will build their confidence.

Avoid criticism

It’s essential to create a safe environment for toddlers to explore and learn from their decisions. Fear of failure or of making a mistake could hold your child back, especially later in life. Supporting kids in learning from their mistakes will actually grant them really valuable life experience. Protecting children from making mistakes often takes that opportunity to learn away.