Give Young Children Their Voices

In an article in Psychology Today, Erin Leyba, LCSW, PhD, writes:

“Providing young children opportunities to use their voices, make decisions, develop ownership, and solve problems are great ways to bond with them.

Giving kids a say also:

• builds respect,
• strengthens community,
• invites cooperation,
• develops problem-solving skills, and
• capitalizes on kids’ normal human need for power and control.”

Deb Curtis and Jess Guiney, in an article that forms the basis for an Out of the Box Training Kit, “Seeing and Supporting Children’s Right to Choose,” write this:

“Vygotsky’s learning theories about social constructivism support the ideas that:

1. Children learn in relationship with others,
2. Being able to fully engage with like-minded friends can scaffold children’s development more readily than can teacher-directed activities…

Our view of children strongly determines if we support and challenge them or direct and correct them. Adults must believe that children deserve the right to choose and are capable of understanding that with rights come responsibility. If we believe this, then we will use our role to coach children to make good choices.”

Source: “5 Guidelines for Giving Kids Choices,” by Erin Leyba, LSCW, PhD, Psychology Today, February 1, 2016

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