Final answer:
To increase a child's performance when they understand a task but struggle with execution, strategies include positive reinforcement, direct communication, community interventions, reducing technology dependence, using reasoning strategies, and helping them develop a sense of competence.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a child knows what needs to be done but cannot perform the task, educators and parents can utilize various strategies to increase performance. One approach is to reinforce positive behaviors with rewards, such as a young child being rewarded with a bedtime story for putting away toys or an older child receiving praise for good grades. Direct communication is also critical, ensuring that each child is engaged and their needs are addressed regularly.
Community interventions, like those at the University of Chicago, where experts encourage parents to speak more to their children, and specialized preschools where children from diverse economic backgrounds learn together, have shown promising results in language development and can be exemplary models to adopt. Decreasing reliance on technology and engaging the brain for tasks like mental arithmetic can also lead to increased mental capacity. In the classroom, providing opportunities for students to use reasoning strategies and critical thinking can help improve their cognitive skills.
Furthermore, assisting children in developing a sense of competence during the industry versus inferiority stage can be achieved through encouragement and offering chances for them to succeed and feel a sense of accomplishment. This may involve adjusting teaching methods to ensure children are able to engage in various roles and learn through experiences, as well as incorporating games designed to enhance cognitive skills.