Why Should I Give Choices?
- Choice making is a part of problem solving. When we make choices, we are building a base for further decision making and problem solving.
- Providing opportunities for children to make a choice boosts cooperation and engagement. You are asking for their joint attention and social involvement. These are great skills to practice for communication.
- Choice making is great for behavior management. Giving young children choices between two objects gives them some control within their environments. It is important for children to have some control but not all of the control.
- We are modeling language when we label items for choice making. This helps with receptive language. Your child hears you say or sees you sign the word for each item every time you give the choice.
- This is great for expressive language. It gives you the opportunity to have your child repeat the word in imitation.
- Boost pointing and gesturing skills.
- Making choices will give your child practice at answering questions.
- When we provide opportunities for young children to make choices, we are giving them a voice. We are showing our children that we are interested in what they have to say, whether it is verbal or through gestures and signs.