Metacognition, the ability to evaluate yourself and understand how you solve problems, is critical to learning from our behavior. This skill allows us to make changes to improve and avoid making the same mistakes. Children who struggle with this skill are more prone to following the actions of others rather than determining the best path for themselves, which obviously is not always a good thing!
Signs Your Child Struggles with Metacognition
If your child has difficulty with any of the following areas (organized by grade level), they may have metacognition challenges:
Preschool/Kindergarten
- Able to adjust when working on projects and the first attempt does not work
- Using tools in novel ways to solve a problem
- Making suggestions to other children about how to solve a problem
First-Third Grade
- Adjusting behavior in response to feedback
- Changing behavior based on observations of others
- Identifying multiple solutions to problems
Fourth-Fifth Grade
- Anticipating the results of an action and adjusting when appropriate
- Identifying multiple solutions to problems and explaining why one is the best choice
- Finding enjoyment in problem-solving activities
Sixth-Eighth Grade
- Accurately evaluating their performance (e.g., in sports or on an assignment)
- Understanding the impact of their actions on others and adjusting appropriately
- Performing tasks that require abstract reasoning
Strategies to Address Metacognition
The following strategies can be implemented to help your child if they struggle with metacognition:
- Praise specific elements of your child’s behavior (e.g., their thoroughness in cleaning their room)
- Teach your child to evaluate their performance by asking them “how do you think you did?”
- Provide brief recommendations for improvement that are paired with praise (e.g., “You did a great job cleaning the living room! Next time, could you please make sure to dust the corners of the shelf?”)
- Have your child describe what the finished product should look like (e.g., how they know what a clean room looks like)
- Teach your child to ask themselves problem solving questions, including “what is the problem?” “what is my plan?” “am I following my plan?” and “how did I do?”
By following these strategies, you can help your child improve their ability to make positive changes in their life!
Reference:
Dawson, P., & Guare, R. (2009). Smart but scattered. New York, NY: The Guilford Press.