Inviting Self-Efficacy in Children

Abstract

The predictive power of self-efficacy beliefs of children aged 4 to 10 was investigated using common schoolyard activities. Participants were 24 elementary school-aged children and 4 pre-kindergarten-aged children. Age-appropriate tasks included the standing broad jump for both groups, a targeted ball kick for the older group and basketball dribbling for the younger group. Results indicated that until around the fifth birthday, the age at which most children begin formal education, the ability to predict performance was not reliable. The school-aged children were more accurate in their predictions and, as a group, illustrated the role of peer support and selfconfidence in developing self-efficacy.