Practices
Offer genuine, age-appropriate choices throughout the day (activities, materials, roles, snack options) rather than yes/no or token choices.
Plan and support child-led experiences: follow children’s interests, extend their ideas and allow sustained engagement.
Use responsive interactions: listen, observe, wait, and respond to children’s initiatives without immediately directing them.
Scaffold decision-making and problem-solving by modelling options, asking open questions, and supporting reflection on outcomes.
Negotiate routines and transitions with children (e.g., transition songs chosen by children, negotiated tidy-up strategies).
Create systems for children to contribute to program planning (e.g., choice boards, voting, child planning meetings, leadership roles).
Provide supports and adaptations so every child can participate in decision-making (visual choices, simplified options, interpreter/family support as needed).
Encourage independence and self-help skills that reinforce agency (preparing own snack, managing belongings, setting up activities).
Evidence to collect
Learning stories or observation notes that explicitly describe the child’s choice, the decision-making process and the outcome.
Photographs or short videos showing children initiating activities, selecting materials or negotiating with peers.
Program plans and daily routines that reference children’s expressed interests and how those informed choices in the program.
Child-created records (drawings, plans, lists) that show their decisions or contributions to planning.
Documentation of negotiated rules, transition strategies or group decisions (choice boards, voting records, meeting notes).
Family communications showing shared decision-making or examples of choices extended between home and service.
Educator reflections and assessment notes that link observed choices to learning outcomes and future planning.
Observable behaviours demonstrating agency
Child initiates an activity, selects materials, or changes the direction of play.
Child asks for options, expresses a preference, or requests an alternative and follows through with the chosen action.
Child negotiates roles or resolves conflicts with peers, demonstrating decision-making and problem-solving.
Educator offers choices, pauses to allow child response, and documents the child’s decision and learning.
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