The New Alphabet: Agency, Action, and Creating Your Own Path
Ever watch a kid turn cardboard boxes into rocket ships? That’s not just play—it’s the quiet hum of something revolutionary starting. Something Dr. Sabba Quidwai calls the ‘AI mindset’: not ‘I’ll learn,’ but ‘I’ll act.’ And in our kitchens and parks, this shift feels less like tech jargon and more like the difference between handing a child a map or letting them chart the course.
From ‘I Can’t’ to ‘Watch Me’—The Mindset Revolution
Remember celebrating when kids swapped ‘I can’t’ for ‘I’ll try’? Today, the next leap isn’t just effort—it’s agency. Dr. Quidwai nails it: the fixed mindset whispers, ‘I’ll never catch up.’ Growth says, ‘I’ll learn.’ But the AI mindset? ‘I’ll act.’ It’s not about knowing every answer but having the courage to steer toward solutions, with technology as a co-pilot rather than a crutch.
Think of it like building a blanket fort—no instructions, just imagination and ‘what if we tried this?’ Yet research from the Brookings Institute hits hard: only seven percent of students graduate with true human agency. We’ve handed them digital devices but forgot the steering wheel. That cozy afternoon painting session where your kid decides colors without asking? That’s small-scale agency training. What if we nurtured that boldness in bigger adventures?
AI: Your Child’s Teammate, Not a Magic Wand
Dr. Quidwai’s phrase ‘AI is not a tool; it is a teammate’ landed like finding an extra cookie in lunchbox—unexpectedly joyful. It’s the shift from treating tech as a vending machine (‘give me answers!’) to a trusted hiking buddy who spots shortcuts you missed. Picture your child planning a family picnic: instead of you dictating the menu, they use a weather app (teammate!) to suggest picnic blankets and sweaters. Initiative blooms when they lead the quest, even if the path gets bumpy.
Speaking of teamwork, schools face the same pivot—preparing kids for co-creation, not just consumption. Like when our little ones negotiate playground rules: ‘What if we try taking turns like this?’ That’s real-time problem-solving with stakes they care about. Why not try that same ‘what if’ at home? Ask, ‘How would you solve this?’ before jumping in. You might just find their solution’s better than your backup plan.
The Power of Tiny Choices That Actually Matter
A 2017 study shows kids given reading choices don’t just read more—they own it. Higher comprehension? Yes. But it’s bigger than books. Agency lives in the everyday: letting your child pick the strawberry jam over raspberry, or decide whether to water plants before breakfast. Those micro-choices—like a tray of small choices—think banchan-style options—are where confidence cooks.
OECD’s Future of Education 2030 nails it: real learning happens when kids co-create solutions. Imagine turning grocery lists into treasure hunts: ‘You choose one new fruit to try!’ Suddenly, nutrition becomes their mission. Remember how warm it feels watching them proudly bite into dragonfruit they picked? That glow? That’s the spark of agency in action. Next overcast day—like the one outside right now—ask, ‘What’s one tiny thing we’ve never tried that we could do right out the door?’ Might lead to cloud-identifying or puddle-jumping. Both perfect.
Nurturing ‘I Did It’ in a World of Distractions
Here’s the gentle truth: agency isn’t loud. It grows in calm spaces between notifications. Facing History’s research reminds us—sleep, nutrition, reflection, and supportive cheer squads fuel it. Like swapping phone scrolling for ‘stump story time’ on walks: ‘Tell me why that tree looks sad.’
Work-life balance whispers here too. When your child stumbles building Lego towers, resist fixing it. Instead: ‘What’s your next move?’ That pause? It’s the difference between a quick fix and lifelong resilience. And for the love of all things sticky-fingered, skip the intense academic pressure. Let curiosity lead—like following ladybugs instead of timed math drills. Real magic happens when they whisper, ‘Look what I made,’ not ‘I finished the worksheet.’
Source: Why Agency Is The New Literacy, Forbes, 2025/09/09 07:54:25