Family Tips: Involving Children in Decision Making
An important aspect of enhancing children’s learning and development is supporting ‘agency’.
What does that mean? And what can you do as a parent to help your child with developing their sense of agency?
The Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) defines agency as “being able to make choices and decisions to influence events and to have an impact on one’s world”.
One of the key ways we support children’s sense of agency in our programming is involving them in decision making.
Genuine Decision Making
As a parent you can further support your child’s sense of agency by trusting them to make decisions.
Here are some examples of what that can look like in practice:
1. Planning Activities
When planning an activity, have several options or choices of what activity to do or how the activity will be done. You might choose a set of options that are logistically feasible but leave it up to your child/ren to decide which one to go with.
For example, for a family day out, you might have the parameters of a day out together that is low cost and involves less than 30 minutes driving.
You might have a few different ideas that meet these criteria such as a walk in a nearby national park, a morning at the beach or a picnic and play at a local park.
2. Influence on Routines
Another thing to consider is how you include your child/ren in decision making about your family and home routines. For example the order in which things are done in your child’s bedtime or morning routine.
3. Meal Choices
Letting children make decisions about what and when they eat is another important way to support their agency. This includes encouraging but not forcing children to try new foods and flavours.
The Benefits of Involving Children in Decision Making
Belonging
One of the main benefits of supporting children to develop agency is in enhancing their sense of belonging.
Self Esteem
By providing a child with choices, we send a message that we trust them and respect their thoughts, ideas and feelings which is good for their self esteem.
Independence
When children are involved in decision making it helps them to see themselves as capable, strong and independent.
Responsibility
Trusting children to make choices that affect themselves and others in the family unit, help them to develop a sense of shared responsibility.
Consequences
Similarly, when children are able to see that their actions and choices have consequences for themselves and others, it helps them to make better decisions.
We hope this article provides some helpful information on involving your child in decisions!