| When Children Make Rules
How is it, that giving children the
ability to make rules will help them in the long run, to gain autonomy? To begin, autonomy is the process by which a
child becomes him or herself, an individual so to speak. Autonomy also has to do with gaining
independence. Thus, it is this very
concept, which will lead me to my discussion of "When Children Make Rules." There
are both cons and pros to this concept of children making rules.
For one
thing, the major ideas presented in the article, "When Children Make Rules," are that rules are important to have, and that as children are developing and
growing, it is a good idea to give children the opportunity to make their own
rules, and choices. Thus, having made
the rules, they are more likely to observe them. Additionally, just as important,
participating in the process of rule making supports children's growth as
moral, self-regulating human beings. Also
stated, was the idea that the rules made by the children, will be better understood
by them. At the same time, the children, will reinvent rules that elaborate on already established norms, and thus a
sense of autonomy is developed.
Secondly,
the implications suggested from the reading are that it is better to have
children learn through their own experiences, and make the rules rather than
the teacher just saying, these are the rules.
Thus, when the children either reinvent the rules or make up their own,
they follow the rules better. The
rules become more clear to them, as well as the importance of the rules. On the other hand, this is not to say that as
teachers, we are not supposed to suggest rules because there are of course
safety issues involved. However, rule
making provides the children with a sense of autonomy.
Decision making promotes further growth
and development by the child. It is this
idea of autonomy that aids in self-confidence. Providing children with the opportunity to make the rules is the foundation for all other active learning. I support this fully. I also support a teacher's say in this situation.
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