In the context of developmental psychology, why is life skills instruction enhanced by teaching a child to self-monitor his or her own efforts?

• A. Because self-monitoring ensures that children will always perform tasks correctly without error.
• B. Because self-monitoring focuses solely on memorization rather than understanding or application.
• C. Because self-monitoring encourages children to reflect on their behavior and make adjustments, leading to greater independence and mastery of skills.
• D. Because self-monitoring eliminates the need for any adult guidance or feedback during learning.

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the concept of self-monitoring in developmental psychology: it refers to a child's ability to observe and regulate their own behavior and efforts during learning or task performance.
2. Recognize that self-monitoring encourages reflection, which means the child evaluates how well they are doing and identifies areas for improvement.
3. Consider how this reflective process promotes independence, as the child learns to adjust their strategies without relying solely on external feedback.
4. Acknowledge that self-monitoring leads to mastery of skills because it involves active engagement and problem-solving rather than passive memorization.
5. Note that self-monitoring does not guarantee error-free performance or eliminate the need for adult guidance, but it enhances learning by fostering self-regulation and adaptive behavior.