Do You Want Your Child to Make Good Choices

Pictures—Please include 2 pictures that are focused on:

• Child ordering food (or icecream, etc) (place at beginning of blog)
• Child looking confident while picking something (grabbing piece of fruit, selecting a book, grabbing something off a shelf, etc) (place at mid-end of blog)

Do You Want Your Child to Make Good Choices?

Empower Your Kids With This One Question

Give Them the Space to Decide

I have never ordered for my children at a restaurant before.

Not a breakfast, a lunch, or a dinner. Nothing.

Why? Because this act means I’m not stepping on their toes or limiting their potential to grow and show up in the world fully as themselves.

It may seem simple, but practices like this matter. It’s these acts that stack up to help your child learn how to take control of their choices. And believe me, I get it. As parents, it’s natural to want to help our children with every decision they face. You might know they should order something healthy from the menu, but don’t just order for them. Sit there with them. Let them handle making a decision even if it isn’t the right one (more on that later).

And if you’re looking for more tips and insights to support your children in making their own decisions, check out my recent blog, “Empower Your Child Through Their Own Choice Making.” You’ll learn all about why it’s so important to encourage your child to make as many big and small decisions as they can every day.

As for today, I want to focus on one response you can always use when you’re guiding your child to make good choices for themselves. Since we already know that decision-making boosts so many traits like confidence and independence (and if you’re not sure about this, I’m telling you—check out that blog I just mentioned), let’s jump in.

Let Your Kids Learn From Their Mistakes

You can’t talk about making good decisions without acknowledging the bad ones. And that, my friends, is where the real growth happens.

Mistakes are invaluable learning opportunities that help kids build resilience and critical thinking skills.

So, when your child eats too much candy and feels sick afterward, they learn about moderation and self-control. Or if they overcommit to activities and find themselves overwhelmed, they start understanding the importance of balance and time management. These experiences teach them more than just the consequences of their actions—they teach them how to navigate life’s ups and downs.

By figuring out and learning from their own mistakes, children are taught valuable lessons that will stick with them far longer than if you had stepped in to fix or handle everything. Letting them learn from their mistakes shows that you trust them to handle challenges and believe in their ability to grow from them.

Mentor Over Manage

As parents, it’s essential to shift from acting as a manager who has a hand in every move your kid makes to the mentor who supports, guides, and encourages.

One way to guide your children? Practice this:

When they ask you, “Can I have this?” say, “I don’t know, can you? You are the manager of your own life.” This simple response empowers them to take charge and think critically about their choices.

And instead of giving direct answers, try encouraging your kids to think about their options and the potential outcomes. You could ask them things like:

• Why do you think this is the best option?
• How will this choice make you feel?
• What could be the potential outcomes if you make that choice?

These questions help children understand the impact of their choices and show that you trust their judgment and support them.

And one of the most important things to do when your child makes a good choice? Even if they made a handful of bad ones along the way? Celebrate it! When they make a positive choice, acknowledge it with a high five, a hug, or something they enjoy.

On the flip side, when your child makes a poor decision, resist the urge to criticize. Instead, reflect. Talk about what happened and explore how they can learn from the experience. This teaches resilience and critical thinking, showing them that mistakes are opportunities for growth.

By empowering children to make their own positive choices, you’re setting them up for long-term success. You’re allowing your kids to develop into confident, independent adults who trust their instincts and face challenges with ease. This is a gift that will benefit them throughout their entire lives.

Future Leaders Start with Good Choices

Giving your kids the space to decide, letting them learn from mistakes, and guiding them instead of doing it all for them are game-changers in raising confident and independent kids.

Start today. Encourage your kids to make their own choices and celebrate when they do. Be there to guide them through the bumps with patience and love. Remember, every small decision they make builds their confidence and independence, setting them up for a bright future.

You've got this, and so do your kids! You’re doing an amazing job!

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