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.
What should I do?
Here is what I suggest . . .
Provide a choice of what toy your preschooler can hold as you buckle him into the car seat. The choice is not whether or not he will be buckled in but rather which toy he holds.
“It’s time to go outside!” That is a statement, not a question. However, the choice might be, “Do you want bubbles or the ball to play with?” You still get what you want but you can also have your child make a choice within the event of going outside. This gives your child an element of control without having total control of the event.
Give your preschooler the opportunity to make a choice a few times throughout the day, not in every situation or for all items.
*Talk to your therapist about having your child make choices and when this would be appropriate to begin.*
We are making choices all of the time, and our children are too. They are choosing to follow a direction or not. Children are choosing to eat green beans or not. They are choosing to initiate play by bringing you a toy.
When we provide additional choices, we are boosting skills that are important for communication, behavior, and social engagement.
Enjoy play time with your child and let me know how it goes!