Mary and her family are moving to Queensland and she is looking for a new preschool for her daughter. Tahlia is a social little girl with Down Syndrome and a mild hearing loss. A friend’s child attends a preschool near to where Mary and Tahlia are moving, and it has been a positive experience for the family.
Mary has looked at the preschool’s Facebook page and all the children and staff look so happy. The preschool seems to do many fun things with the children that could benefit Tahlia.
She decides to go with her gut and enrols her daughter for next term when they arrive in Queensland.
Going with her gut might not be the best idea for Mary. Her friend’s child might be very different from Tahlia, who has her own needs. The testimonial of one parent is not reliable information. There are a few biases that can impact on Mary’s thinking. For example, her friend could attach positive features to the choice she made and believe it was the best option – a choice-supportive bias.
The preschool will post images to their Facebook page that show the preschool in a positive light. They are unlikely to post things that show unhappy children and parents. This is the framing effect and could bias Mary’s thinking.
The preschool could be a good option, but it might not be the best option for Tahlia. It would be better for Mary to consider her options in a more considered way so that the preschool is more likely to meet Tahlia’s needs. This will be explored in Session 4.
Disclaimer: The information contained on this website is not intended as a substitute for independent professional advice.
