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This research investigates how children decide between hard and easy tasks based on their prior performance.

February 8, 2026Child Development0 citations

Children's decision to challenge themselves on a novel task relates to their metacognitive monitoring of their ability

Key Points

This research investigates how children decide between hard and easy tasks based on their prior performance.
Examined choices made by 5- to 7-year olds while constructing a gear machine.
Analyzed the relationship between children's accuracy on difficult and easy tasks and their choice of future tasks.
Sample included 100 children with a diverse racial background.
Children were significantly more likely to choose difficult tasks after accurately completing prior challenging tasks. (OR = 3.60)
No connection was found between accuracy on easy tasks and subsequent task choices.

Abstract

Abstract We examined potential processes by which children decide to make hard as opposed to easy choices to accomplish a goal. Five- to 7-year olds (N = 100, 52 girls, 61% White, 7% Hispanic or Latine, 5% Asian or Asian American, 5% Black or African American, 2% Native American, American Indian, or Alaskan Native, 13% Mixed Race, 7% not reporting) constructed a gear machine by choosing between easy and hard building instructions. Children chose to take on more difficult instructions based on their accuracy on previously difficult choices (OR = 3.60). Accuracy on easy choices did not relate to their subsequent decisions. These results suggest that children monitor performance on more challenging decisions and use this information to control their decision making about future efforts adaptively.

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