Disclosure: This is a collaborative post.
Decisions are a crucial part of everyone’s life. It is estimated that the average adult makes 35,000 decisions every day, and around 200 of those are on food alone. Of course, everyone has made their fair share of bad decisions. Perhaps you shouldn’t have tried that restaurant. Maybe you should have been a little more patient in traffic. It happens, and you learn from it. No sweat.
And soon, your kids will start needing to make decisions, too. But how can parents help their kids make the best decisions that will benefit them and everyone around them? Here are a few ways you can help your kids make great decisions no matter where you are in the world.
Start Early
Exposing kids to decision making early is guaranteed to make them more comfortable when faced with choices. These early decisions do not need to be too drastic, and something as simple as picking what to wear for bed or what to play in the back garden can be enough. Although these decisions aren’t important for what happens, they make them familiar with the process, and they will learn about what they enjoyed after the decision, which can influence and impact future choices.
Be Careful Not to Push Them Towards What You Want
Parents can often use their kids as a conduit for getting the right answer, or at least the answer they perceive is the right one. When you’re helping your kids make good decisions, be careful that you don’t push them too much towards what you want them to say. They will never learn how to make decisions they will be happy with if they feel pressured to say yes or no to something after you’ve nudged them in a specific direction. Of course, it seems as if they might pick something entirely wrong, it might be best to step in.
Let Them Learn What They Like
Kids who know what they like and what they want in life can prove to be adept at making decisions. This doesn’t just help them when they are younger, but also when they come to pick a career after the home education adventure is finished. Being able to expose kids to a range of unique experiences can give them even better decision-making skills, as they will have a deeper well to draw from. While their opinions and preferences are certain to change as the years go on, these early skills are crucial and will give them an excellent foundation.
Create the Illusion of Choice (At First)
There will come the point where your kids smarten up to making decisions that don’t matter. This is okay; it’s natural; it shows that your child is switched on and recognises their surroundings and situations. However, it could also conjure some awkward conversations. This is your chance to offer your kids the illusion of choice. Even if the decisions might seem bigger to them, such as where you want to eat or go on your next adventure (because you’re happy with either), they’ll consider more and learn some vital skills.
Remember to Praise Them
Praising kids is something every parent should do, but you must be careful about offering too much praise, as this can make your child feel invincible and struggle with their personal growth. Still, you know how hard it can be to make a decision, so showing your support once they crack a tricky choice will fill them with confidence. They will learn from this experience and remember it positively. Should they face similar scenarios in the future, they can recall such praise and use this to influence their next choice.
Involve Them in Something ‘Big’
The final step of the decision-making journey is to involve them in something big. This something big will be bigger than anything before, and it can cement their confidence as a great decision-maker. Suppose you buy a new car and want to make it truly yours. Offer your child the chance to pick out private plates for sale to display. If you’re looking for other ideas, new hairstyles or even new baby names (without straying into ridiculousness) can make them feel involved and more mature.
Decisions, Decisions
While you can’t guarantee your kids will make good decisions every time (because who can?) you can at least teach them the skills that will ensure a decent number of their choices are right for them. Whether it’s deciding what to do in life, where to travel, or what to have for dinner, you can put the power in their hands.
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