Good decision basics

During the course of trying to teach the child how to make good decision, the parent would have to also help the child look at the issue that requires the decision making from various different angles until the child is completely satisfied with the information available and is able to make an informed decision.

The basics

The following are some of the areas the child should be taught to consider before making decisions of any sort: Teaching the child to have an idea of the desired outcome would be a good point to start from as the child will then learn to try and make the decision that will best contribute to the desired outcome.

Having a picture in mind of the desired outcome will also help the child to explore various possibilities until the suitable one is found. Setting about creating various options before the final decision is made will also help the child to learn how to be flexible in the decision making and it will help the child think out of the box and be more adventurous and open to other thought processes.

Encouraging the child to seek the advice of others is also another good way of learning how to make decisions especially if the decisions made will eventually affect others too. The child will be taught the value of considering other people’s opinions thus teaching them the vital element of being considerate. Getting others involved will also teach the child how to handle outside input in a diplomatic and respectful way.

Make your child aware of what decision making is

During the course of learning how to make good decisions, the child will often encounter various problems and this will give the parent the opportunity to teach the child how to effectively handle these problems without causing further problems for others and themselves.

Let them know

Making a child understand the fundamentals of decisions making may not be as easy task but is certainly one that would eventually help the child to be independent and trustworthy when making decisions. The child should also be taught that not all decisions will be accepted willingly and immediately by all, and that preparations should be made to get those unwilling to follow the decision to understand the decision and why it was made in that particular way.

This can be quite a challenge for a young child but it will nonetheless be a good experience in learning how to argue a point in an intelligent and acceptable way. The parent should also teach the child the expected consequences of any decisions made. This is especially important for the younger child who may be unable to comprehend why the decision made is not being accepted and welcomed willingly.

Learning that not all decision made by the child are acceptable will allow the child to learn how to work around rejection for the better good of themselves thus effectively learning self-preservation. A child should also be taught that decisions made usually have corresponding consequences and this would also be something that the child would have to consider before any decisions are finalized.

They will learn to understand that there is also a need to consider all consequences derived from the decision and it these are acceptable. Being able to weigh the problem from different angles is definitely something that they will have to realize, is part of decision making.

Teach your child how to come up with possibilities

Decision making usually involves various different levels and the sooner the child is made to understand all the connecting levels, the better able to cope with the decision and its outcome will be. Understanding that decision making is not to be taken lightly is a very important lesson to impart to the child.

Choices

One of the first things the parent should try to instill in the child is the fact that decision making is not about simply wanting something and going with the first choice or thought to acquire it. Teaching the child that there is a need to consider a lot of elements before the final decision is made, will help the child make better and well-rounded decisions that are more likely to be accepted and followed willingly.

Perhaps conducting a simple exercise where everything is noted down on paper would be a good start to help the child be more aware of the various aspects involved in good decision making. By putting things down on paper, the child will be able to see clearly all the options and intended desired outcome and thus have a more informed picture of what may be required as part of the decision making process.

This will also help to encourage the child to note down as many possibilities that can contribute to a more effective decision making process. Insisting that the child learn to approach each decision tack with a few possible options will be one way of encouraging the child to think and explore in depth the elements that would be main contributing factors to the eventual decision making. There is also the added advantage of the child learning to look out for as many different solutions as possible.

Teach your child to weigh consequences

Decision making can be considered fun for a child given the opportunity to do so, but with this opportunity, comes the need to the child to be aware of the various corresponding consequences of any and all decisions made.

What can happen?

This part of the decision making exercise may not be as much fun but would have to be considered nonetheless. This is to make the child understand that the decision making task has many connecting facets. Even at a young age the child should be taught the importance of weighing all the possible consequences of the decision made.

This will help the child look at the eventual decision in a different light as they learn to understand that these decisions have corresponding consequences that they would have to live by. Ideally the parent should start by teaching the child that any decision made would be solely based on the child’s choice thus making the responsibility of the outcome of the decision chosen also the responsibility of the child.

There would also be the need to point out that any decision made without clearly weighing all options would be a bad way to start the decision making exercise, as the probability of a poor outcome would be quite certain. Teaching a child to consider everyone who would be eventually affected by the decision is also one way of making the child weigh all the consequences adequately.

Being careful to listen to one’s needs and yet at the same time consider how these needs would affect others, will teach the child the invaluable lesson or habit of learning how to be considerate always. It is also a good idea to point out to the child, that a decision that may seem negative presently may evolve into something more positive as the decision is allowed to run its course.

Excerpted from the book Teaching Good Decision Making Skills.

This excerpt has been edited and condensed for clarity.

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