Using Choice and Preference to Promote Improved Behavior

Assess your environment

Do the children know what choices are available?
Are there multiple ways for children to make choices (real objects, photos, pictures, voice output devices)?
Can the children choose an activity or order of events in the daily schedule?
What choices are available during routines (e. g., snack, toileting, transitions)?

Assess the children's skill level

What are all of the ways a child could indicate choice (eye gaze, nod, change in facial expression, body language, blink, reach, point, verbal approximation, verbal request)?
Does the child know how to make a choice when given the opportunity?
Have you identified the current communicative level of each child?

Make simple, effective changes

Visual strategies: Use choice boards where child can see photos or drawings of choices.
Forced Choice: Purposely set up the environment so that a child needs to make a choice.
Peer selection: Allow students to choose a peer to sit next to, share with, or help with a chore.
Group choice making: Allow the class to make decisions as a group.

Enjoy the results

Increased motivation
Increased attention/ on-task behavior
Increased learning
Increased socialization
Decreased challenging behavior

Examples of using choice and preference in the classroom

Allow Sarah to choose her coat hook upon arrival.
Ask David to choose a peer to help him pass out plates during snack by choosing the friend's picture off the friend chart.
Tell Demetria that she can choose a friend to take the next turn in circle by giving the friend the "Your Turn" card.
Ask the class to decide (as a group) whether they want to finger paint or play with clay.
Ask Dylan to point to one of two juice boxes during snack.
Allow Nia to choose between the bar soap and the pump soap in the bathroom.

August 2004

Return to What Works Briefs

Return to Resources

This material was developed by the Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning with federal funds from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families (Cooperative Agreement N. PHS 90YD0119). The contents of this publication do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, nor does mention of trade names, commercial projects, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. You may reproduce this material for training and information purposes.

We welcome your feedback on this What Works Brief. Please go to the CSEFEL Web site (http://csefel.uiuc.edu) or call us at (217) 333-4123 to offer suggestions.