Providing suggestions for parents and teachers, this anecdotal collection of an early childhood educator's experiences and insights emphasizes the importance of developing the decision-making capabilities of young children. Fundamentally, the discussion asserts that one of the major responsibilities of adults is to give children freedom to learn from their own experiences and to shoulder the consequences of their choices. The argument includes the following ideas: (1) children's autonomy in decision making can be increased without loss of parental control; (2) art activities are important sources of early experiences in choosing among alternatives; (3) the appropriate role of parents and teachers is a nurturing one, not a didactic one; (4) attempts to direct children's play violate children's rights; (5) parents and teachers should structure children's play environments but should not structure the process of their play; and (6) the security-providing, necessary prohibitions imposed by adults to establish boundaries to and limits on children's behavior must not impugn children's motives or become the basis of power struggles between children and adults. Contents also emphasize the importance of social play. It is noted that when children play together they are constantly making decisions and that confidence in decision making promotes competence and moral development. (RH)