Taking Responsibility: Making Choices

With young children, very often we make choices for them. We tell them where to stand, where to sit, how to behave, what is expected. Choices are something that as children develop, need to also be given the opportunity to make on their own. So, in my classroom, many times I’ll give them two choices of something: you can have this, or you can have that. Which one are you going to choose? Thank you, that is a kind choice. And that gives them ownership over themselves and their own responsibilities. That, “I made that decision and I have control of my life.” Of course, every now and then, there are choices that we need to make for them as teachers for safety and for instructional purposes, and for the reason to keep them aware that we are still in charge, but that as they develop, choices are very necessary and important for their development.