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Parents today
are concerned about their children learning basic values and
growing up to be responsible adults. To ensure this parents
must instill in children, the importance of making good decisions.
We 'take charge' of our lives by making rational decisions.
Seemingly trivial decisions are important in the long run. Good
Decision Makers are successful people. With your guidance and
practice, children can improve their ability to make sound decisions
in all areas of their life. The ability to make sound decisions
can help them in achieving their goals. They enjoy the feeling
of self-confidence that comes from knowing how to make wise
choices consistently. This helps in enhancing their self-esteem.
They must understand the importance of making decisions and
accept the responsibility for making decisions, in their life.
With practice children will gain confidence in their ability
to make good decisions. Children who can exercise some control
over their lives are being prepared to be responsible and happier
adults.
Some Decision-Making
Models:
1. 4-Step Decision-making
Model
| Step 1 |
Children
should state the need for a decision at the bottom of
theorganiser. |
| Step 2 |
They must select four
possible alternatives. |
| Step 3: |
Encourage children to
make a note of the positive and negative consequences
of each alternative on the next organizer level. They
may wish to share their organizer with others toadd or
delete items. |
| Step 4 |
Given the possible consequences,
they must develop a decision. The decision should bewritten
at the top of the organiser. |
:
2. Decision
Tree
Near the roots of the Decision Tree, children write the occasion
for the decision, such as resolving a conflict. On the main
trunk and branches of the tree, children identify one or more
alternative decisions. In the leaves and stems above, they list
the positive and negative consequences of each alternative.
Finally, after weighing the consequences, they write the decision
in the box at the top of the tree. This diagram models and reinforces
a thoughtful process of decision-making.
Children's
literature an effective decision making tool
Children's literature can be an effective tool because typically
it is easy to read, fun to listen to, and shares clear actions
and consequences. If used in creative ways, childhood stories
are an effective supplement to help children learn the skills
needed to make informed and responsible decisions.
A decisive tool that accomplishes this is reading and sharing
childhood stories. Panchatantra Tales, Aesop's Fables, The Three
Little Pigs, and similar tales have imaginative characters that
aid learning basic values and developing decision-making skills.
| Example 1 |
In the Three Little
Kittens, children learn that they cannot have their reward
/ pie if they do not take care of their things / mittens.
If they do learn to take care of their things, and wash
their dirty mittens then they will be entrusted with further
responsibility of catching the mouse. |
| Example 2 |
By reading the story
about The Ants and The Grasshopper, where the ants worked
hard all summer to bring in the food so they could eat
in the approaching winter. The grasshopper sequences and
not just relies on the pleasures of the moment. |
| Example 3 |
The Tortoise and The
Hare illustrates to children that patience and perseverance
are successful character traits to possess. Children learn
even when a project looks enormous, it is best to get
started, taking one step at a time and eventually it will
be completed. There lies success in completing a difficult
task, although it may take one longer than it takes someone
else. |
| Example 4 |
Pinocchio teaches to
Measure Information |
Decision Making Activities:
The goal of Decision-Making activities is to develop self-responsibility
and independence in your child. This objective helps your child
to recognize decision opportunities that are part of the normal
daily routine. It also shows how your child can make his decisions
work for him, by stopping bad habits and evaluating the influence
of advertising.
Talk
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What is a decision? |
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What kinds of decisions do you make
every day? |
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What are some things we can't decide
for ourselves? (e.g. who our parents are, grade on
test, what school to go to, what medicine to take, who
rides our bus, etc.) |
|
What are some things we can decide
for ourselves? (e.g. our friends, our favorite food,etc.) |
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What decisions do you make about
caring for yourself? (e.g. deciding not to smoke, eatingthe
right foods, getting enough rest, not doing dangerous
things, etc.) |
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How do you know the difference between
right and wrong? |
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If you make a bad decision, can
you change your mind? |
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Why should you admit it when you
have made a wrong decision? |
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What are bad habits? Can you decide
to get rid of a bad habit? |
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How do you decide which products
(e.g. toy, movie, game, food, etc.) to use? |
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Is everything you see on television
or in a magazine true? |
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What are some differences between
real life and television? |
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What are some things you see on television
that could hurt you in real life? |
Make
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Decisions, Decisions!" Have
your child draw pictures of decisions that they make every
day. (e.g. what to wear, where to sit on bus, what to
eat, what to read, who to play with,
etc.) |
|
Advisors" Have your child draw
a picture of someone who helps them know the
difference between right and wrong. (e.g. parents, teacher,
baby sitter, older siblings, etc.) |
|
Bashing Bad Habits" Explain
to your child that by making smart decisions, he can get
rid of any bad habit. List some bad habits. . (e.g. interrupting,
biting nails, watching too much TV, etc.) Have your child
suggest ideas for overcoming them. (e.g. substitute healthy
activity, ask others to look for your bad habit, set a
decreasing limit on how many times a day you can do the
bad habit, etc.) |
|
Advertiser for the Day" Ask
your child to design ads for healthy products. (e.g. foods,
exercise equipment, toys, clothes, vacations, books, etc.)
Tell her to make the products look attractive and interesting.
|
Tips for parents to develop Decision-making skills in their
children:
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Give your children opportunities
to practice making decisions. |
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Encourage children to be honest in
identifying the problems, setting goals and priorities,
evaluating information, etc |
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Show children how to weigh their
options, gather necessary information and consider alternatives
and potential outcomes of their decisions. |
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Help children understand that decisions
have consequences both for themselves and others. |
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Show your child that postponing a
decision when one is needed can be as bad as making the
'wrong' decision. |
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Accept your children's decisions.
Remember, no decision is perfect. Support your children's
ability to make decisions. Understand that many of your
children's decisions will be based on their personal tastes
and needs and therefore may not match the decision you
would have made for them |
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Ask children to use time wisely when
they make decisions. |
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Lay ground rules or limits for decision-making.
If a child wants to do something that is clearly harmful
or unacceptable, explain why you cannot allow him or her
to act on that decision. |
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