Cultivate Decision-Making Skills: Building Confidence Through Choices

Making decisions is a fundamental life skill that directly contributes to a child’s sense of personal power.

When children practice making choices and experience their outcomes, they develop confidence in their judgment and learn that they have meaningful control over their lives.

These activities are designed to provide children aged 6 and up with age-appropriate opportunities to make decisions in safe, supportive environments.

Through regular practice with increasingly complex choices, children develop critical thinking skills and gain confidence in their ability to navigate life’s many options.

Activities

1. Choose Your Own Adventure Stories

Purpose: To develop decision-making skills and understand consequences through engaging narratives.

Materials Needed:

Choose Your Own Adventure books
Digital interactive stories
Homemade adventure stories
Decision tracking sheet
Story mapping materials
Alternative ending worksheet

Steps:

1. Selecting Appropriate Stories:

Begin by finding stories that match your child’s interests and reading level.

Look for:

Published Choose Your Own Adventure books
Interactive digital stories
Storytelling apps with decision points
Videos with choice-based narratives

2.

You can also create simple stories yourself:

Write short scenarios with decision points
Draw simple illustrations for choices
Create a family adventure based on your child’s interests
Record audio stories with pauses for decisions

3. Setting Up the Reading Experience:

Create an engaging environment for decision-making:

Establish a comfortable reading spot
Explain how the adventure format works
Model the first decision together
Create a simple tracking system for decisions
Set up a “story map” to visualize different paths

4. Guiding the Decision Process:

As your child encounters decision points in the story, help them think through their choices:

“What do you think might happen if you choose this path?”
“What information do we have that might help us decide?”
“Which option feels more interesting/safer/better to you?”
“What are the possible risks and rewards of each choice?”

5.

Allow them time to consider options without rushing, and respect their decisions even if they differ from what you would choose.

6. Reflecting on Outcomes:

After reaching an ending or significant story point, discuss the journey:

“How do you feel about how the story turned out?”
“Were you surprised by what happened after your choice?”
“Would you make the same decision again? Why or why not?”
“What clues in the story helped you with your decision?”
“Would you like to go back and try a different path?”

7. Extending the Learning:

Deepen the experience with additional activities:

Create a map of all possible story paths
Write alternative endings for different choices
Discuss how story decisions compare to real-life choices
Have your child create their own adventure story
Role-play the scenarios from the story

Book Recommendations by Age:

Ages 6-7: “Your Very Own Robot” (R.A. Montgomery), simpler picture-based choice books
Ages 8-9: “The Abominable Snowman” (R.A. Montgomery), “Knight in the Forest” series
Ages 10+: “House of Danger,” “Journey Under the Sea,” more complex narratives

2. Meal Planner Helper

Purpose: To develop practical decision-making skills and understand how choices affect wellbeing.

Materials Needed:

Weekly meal planning calendar
Recipe cards or cookbook
Food group chart
Grocery list template
Menu template
Food magazine pictures
Nutrition information sheets

Steps:

1. Creating the Planning Framework:

Set up a structured but flexible system for meal planning:

Create a simple weekly calendar
Make a visual guide to food groups
Collect family-friendly recipes
Establish any parameters (budget, nutrition guidelines)
Set up a special meal planning session each week

2. Introducing Guided Choices:

Begin with limited, appropriate options:

Start with planning one meal type (just dinners or lunches)
Offer 2-3 healthy options for each meal
Include at least one food they enjoy and one new food
Show pictures of completed meals
Discuss basic nutrition in child-friendly terms

3. Guiding the Planning Process:

Help your child think through their meal decisions:

“What food groups should we include in this meal?”
“Which foods give us energy for playing?”
“How can we make sure the meal has different colors?”
“What new food might you be willing to try this week?”
“How can we use leftovers in another meal?”

4.

Document their choices on the meal plan calendar, and let them decorate it or add pictures of the foods.

5. Implementing the Plan:

Involve your child in bringing their meal plan to life:

Take them shopping with a list based on their plan
Let them help find items in the store
Involve them in age-appropriate food preparation
Have them announce each meal they planned
Take photos of the completed meals they designed

6. Reflecting on Choices:

After meals, discuss how their planning worked out:

“How did you enjoy the meal you planned?”
“Was it as you expected?”
“What would you change next time?”
“How did planning ahead help us this week?”
“What new things did you learn about food choices?”

Progressive Implementation:

Week 1-2: Plan one special meal per week
Week 3-4: Plan weekend meals
Week 5-6: Plan lunches for the week
Week 7-8: Create a full weekly dinner plan
Week 9+: Help create the shopping list based on the plan

3. Game of Choices

Purpose: To practice decision-making and experience consequences in an engaging, low-stakes environment.

Materials Needed:

Strategy board games
Card games requiring choices
Decision-focused video games
Choice-tracking journal
Strategy discussion cards
Timer for decisions
Reflection worksheet

Steps:

1. Selecting Appropriate Games:

Choose games that feature meaningful decisions appropriate for your child’s age and development:

For younger children (6-7): Simple path choices, resource allocation
For middle ages (8-9): More complex strategy, risk assessment
For older children (10+): Long-term planning, multiple variables

2.

Good options include:

Path games (Candy Land, Life, Monopoly Jr.)
Resource games (Settlers of Catan Junior, My First Carcassonne)
Strategy games (Checkers, Connect Four, Chess)
Card games (Uno, Go Fish, Exploding Kittens)

3. Setting Up for Learning:

Create an environment focused on the decision process:

Explain rules clearly before starting
Discuss different strategies that could be used
Create a “thinking aloud” atmosphere
Establish that the goal is to learn, not just win
Set up a simple way to track key decisions

4. Guiding Decision-Making During Play:

Help your child develop their decision-making process:

Encourage them to consider multiple options: “What are all the moves you could make right now?”
Prompt thinking ahead: “What might happen if you make that move?”
Ask about alternatives: “Is there another choice that might work better?”
Support their final decisions: “That’s an interesting choice, let’s see how it works out.”

5.

Avoid telling them what to do or criticizing their choices. Instead, ask questions that help them think more deeply.

6. Reflecting on Game Choices:

After the game, discuss the decision process and outcomes:

“What was your favorite decision you made during the game?”
“Were there any decisions you wish you had made differently?”
“How did you decide what to do when it was a tough choice?”
“Did any of your decisions surprise you with their results?”
“What strategy might you try next time?”

7. Connecting to Real Life:

Help your child see the parallels to everyday decision-making:

“How is deciding in this game like making choices at school?”
“What skills from the game could help you make decisions with friends?”
“How does thinking ahead in the game help in other situations?”
“What did you learn about yourself as a decision-maker?”

Game Progression by Skill Focus:

Basic Choice Making: Candy Land, Chutes and Ladders
Resource Management: Monopoly Jr., Money Bingo
Strategic Planning: Checkers, Connect Four, Battleship
Probability Assessment: Yahtzee, card games
Complex Decision Chains: Chess, Settlers of Catan Junior

4. Toy Organizing Task

Purpose: To develop organizational decision-making skills and experience the impact of choices on one’s environment.

Materials Needed:

Toy storage containers
Labels or pictures for categories
Organization plan worksheet
Before and after camera
Reward system (optional)
Maintenance schedule

Steps:

1. Preparing for the Organization Project:

Set your child up for success with proper preparation:

Choose a time when they’re rested and not hungry
Start with one manageable area rather than all toys
Provide clear, child-accessible containers
Create picture labels for younger children
Discuss the benefits of organization
Take “before” pictures of the space

2. Guiding the Decision Framework:

Help your child develop an organization system:

Ask how they might group similar toys
Discuss possible categories (type, size, frequency of use)
Create a simple plan on paper first
Talk about the pros and cons of different systems
Let them make the final decisions about categories

3. Supporting the Organization Process:

Provide guidance while ensuring ownership:

Start with creating category piles
Ask questions when they seem unsure
Offer help with physical tasks if needed
Encourage breaks for longer projects
Celebrate progress throughout
Take “during” photos to show improvement

4.

Use supportive language:

“How do you think these should be sorted?”
“Where would you look for this toy when you want to play with it?”
“What’s your reasoning for putting these together?”

5. Reflecting on the Organization:

After completion, help your child evaluate their system:

Take “after” photos and compare with before
Discuss how they feel about the new organization
Try finding specific toys to test the system
Talk about what works well and what might need adjusting
Consider if any categories need more specific sorting

6. Maintaining and Evolving the System:

Help your child learn from their organizational choices:

Create a simple maintenance routine
Check in after a week to see how the system is working
Make adjustments based on experience
Discuss how their decisions affected daily play
Plan future organization projects for other areas

Implementation by Age:

Ages 6-7: 2-3 simple categories with pictures, shorter sessions
Ages 8-9: 4-5 categories with more specific sorting
Ages 10+: Complex categorization systems, multi-step organization

5. Dress for the Day

Purpose: To develop practical decision-making skills based on multiple factors, including weather, activities, and personal preference.

Materials Needed:

Weather chart
Daily activity calendar
Clothing options
Decision checklist
Full-length mirror
Clothing categories guide

Steps:

1. Creating a Supportive Framework:

Set up a system that supports independent clothing choices:

Organize clothing so it’s accessible
Create a visual guide to weather-appropriate clothing
Post a schedule of the day’s activities
Make a simple decision checklist
Ensure there’s adequate time in the morning routine
Provide a mirror for self-assessment

2. Introducing the Decision Process:

Start with a discussion about clothing considerations:

“What kind of weather are we expecting today?”
“What activities do you have planned?”
“What do you need to consider for each activity?”
“How can you make sure you’ll be comfortable all day?”

3.

Create a simple checklist that includes:

Weather check (temperature, precipitation)
Activity review (school, sports, special events)
Body comfort (freedom of movement, temperature)
Personal style preferences

4. Guiding Initial Choices:

For the first few weeks, provide structured guidance:

Review the day’s weather and activities together
Discuss 2-3 appropriate options
Ask about their preferences within those options
Let them make the final decision
Review their choice using the checklist

5.

Gradually reduce your input:

Let them check the weather independently
Have them propose options before you offer suggestions
Eventually step back to an advisory role only when asked

6. Building Reflection Skills:

Help your child learn from their clothing choices:

At the end of the day, discuss how their choices worked
- “Were you comfortable in your clothes today?”
- “Did your choices work well for all your activities?”
- “Would you make the same choice again?”
- “What would you change next time for similar weather?”

7. Expanding Decision Complexity:

As they master basic choices, add more factors:

Planning outfits for multiple days
Selecting clothes for special occasions
Packing for trips or changing weather
Considering clothing care and maintenance
Making decisions about when clothes need replacing

Progression Path:

Beginning: Choice between 2-3 pre-selected options
Intermediate: Independent selection with parental review
Advanced: Fully independent selection with occasional consultation

These decision-making activities help children develop:

Critical thinking skills
Understanding of cause and effect
Confidence in their judgment
Independence in daily life
Ability to consider multiple factors

Remember that decision-making skills develop gradually. Start with simple choices and limited options, then progressively increase complexity as your child demonstrates readiness.

Next Steps

Begin with activities that match your child’s current abilities
Provide consistent opportunities for decision-making
Respect their choices even when they differ from yours
Use mistakes as learning opportunities
Celebrate thoughtful decision processes, not just outcomes

The goal is to help children develop confidence in their ability to make good decisions, understanding that they have meaningful control over many aspects of their lives.