All stories / Instructional Design and Training Team
How your child can move from emotional to data based decision
Most parents spend a lot of time to choose the right online course for their children. It may be Phonics, Abacus, a foreign language, robotics, programming or AI.
Even wondered why your child chose something just because their friends chose it?
A bicycle. A tuition class. A programming language. Even a college.
But, is it the right choice for them?
Not every choice is the right choice
Unlike earlier, children today are exposed to a lot of content through social media. Even if we restrict it at home, they still come to know about it through their classmates and friends.
I still remember one day my daughter told me, “My friends are talking about video games. I feel left out because I don’t know anything about them.” As parents, we know the side effects of excessive gaming, so we chose not to encourage it at home. But this made me realize something.
No matter how much we try to restrict them at home, they will still be exposed to different trends and opinions through their peers.
Instead of trying to restrict them, shouldn’t we teach them how to think and choose what is right for them, even when we are not around them?
A Real life example of data based decision
Last month my daughter came to me and asked, “Amma, I want to join Karate and Hindi classes. Karate class will be on Mondays and Thursdays. Hindi class will be on all weekdays. I want to go for both because my friend will go for both.”
I wanted to say “No” immediately, as I know she will be tired if she attends 2 classes together that will impact her homework. But instead I said, “Ok. Join the classes.”
Even after 3 weeks, I didn’t tell her to stop classes but I noticed her tiredness whenever she attended 2 classes. Instead of asking her to stop attending the class, I asked her simple questions so that she can start to think.
- Were you able to complete homework on time?
- Did you sleep on time yesterday?
- What time did you wake up today?
- How did you feel in school today?
- Did you notice anything different on days attending Karate & Hindi class together?
I want her to think and take better decisions by learning this process, even when I am not around. Slowly, she started to think by herself.
How data based decision came in
We sat together with a notebook and wrote down what happened each day.
- Karate – Monday and Thursday
- Hindi – All weekdays
- Both classes happen together – Monday & Thursday.
Then we noted down the number of hours left for homework, play and sleep.
I wanted to bring her data to a table, so that it was easy for her to observe.
| Day | Class | Homework (hrs) | Play(hrs) | Sleep(hrs) |
| Monday | Karate & Hindi | 4 | 0 | 7 |
| Tuesday | Hindi | 3 | 1 | 8 |
| Wednesday | Hindi | 3 | 1 | 8 |
| Thursday | Karate & Hindi | 4 | 0 | 7 |
| Friday | Hindi | 3 | 1 | 8 |
Her eyes first went to the days when she had “Zero playing hours at home”.
The problem wasn’t Karate or Hindi
She looked at the table and said , “I am tired on days when I attend both classes during Monday & Thursday. I couldn’t finish my homework on time so I couldn’t play with you” .
She decided on a new plan and showed it to me.
- Karate – Monday & Thursday
- Hindi – Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday
That day, I wasn’t happy because she reduced the class. I was happy because she learned how to make a decision on her own.
At that time, I didn’t call it Data based thinking. I was just helping her to think before deciding what is right for her.
This was exactly the process we teach in our Junior Data Skills with MsExcel course.
| Data based decision steps | Example |
| Information | Karate twice a week, Hindi all weekdays, her words |
| Data | Table(Days, Homework hours, Sleep hours, Play hours) |
| Pattern | Tired whenever both classes were on the same day |
| Metrics | Homework hours, Play hours |
| Insight | Attending both classes on the same day made her tired, homework time extended, no time to play at home, sleeping hours reduced |
| Decision | Attend one class per day |
Why should children learn to take data based decision today
Not because children need to become Data Analysts, but to become better decision makers.
Today, the decision is about choosing between Karate and Hindi classes.
Tomorrow, it will be about choosing a subject group in Class 11. Later, it will be about choosing a degree, a college or a career.
As a parent, we need to teach children not to make decisions just because their friends have made them. We should help them to learn to question themselves like,
- What are my options?
- What are the facts?
- Which choice is right for me?
Help your children take decisions based on data
One day, we won’t always be there with our children when they choose their friends, career or habits. They won’t even come to us to check if their decision was right or wrong. But we can teach them today how to make the right decision on their own.
That’s why we thoughtfully designed the Junior Data Skills with MsExcel course for kids above age 11.Instead of making decisions just because everyone has chosen them, children will be able to learn to make decisions using information,data,metrics,patterns and insights.
MsExcel is just a tool
We use MsExcel as a tool to teach based decision thinking. We don’t teach children to become MsExcel experts or Data Analysts.
Because technology will keep changing. The ability to make good decisions is not just a technical skill. It is an essential life skill.
Want to help your child become a better decision maker ?
Enquire in WhatsApp : https://wa.link/fhw442
Note : This blog is based on a real life experience with my daughter and inspired by the creation of codePannu’s Junior Data Skills with MsExcel course.