WiseTip: AL-INI-M2436-I01A

Approaches to Learning

Promoting Initiative

Create opportunities for your child to make choices independently by offering them reasonable and acceptable alternatives.

1, 2

Hyson, M. (2008). Enthusiastic and engaged learners: Approaches to learning in the early childhood classroom. New York: Teachers College Press and Washington DC: NAEYC.
Jones NP. (2005). BIG JOBS: Planning for competence. YC Young Children. 60(2):86-93.

WHY IT MATTERS

Understanding children's needs for autonomy also means providing them with opportunities to make choices so that they can marshal their initiative to choose what to engage with.

Hyson, M. (2008). Enthusiastic and engaged learners: Approaches to learning in the early childhood classroom. New York: Teachers College Press and Washington DC: NAEYC.

Even very young children can cultivate initiative and persistence when they are given choices in tasks which are meaningful to them.

Jones NP. (2005). BIG JOBS: Planning for competence. YC Young Children. 60(2):86-93.

Young children can be given simple choices, such as choosing which book to read or which toy to play with. Toddlers could be offered choices with reasonable and acceptable alternatives. This builds their natural inclination to exercise initiative in ways that allow caregivers to manage them and avoid power struggles.