But I want to do it!

4- to 8-year-olds

Your child will hear two short stories about a boy and his mom. In each story, the boy wants to play with an interesting object, and his mom asks him not to. Your child will answer questions about what each character did and how they felt. Some questions will ask your child to choose between simple options, while others will require them to say their answer aloud, for example to explain why the mom asked the boy not to play with the object.

Everyday family life often includes moments when children are excited to do something but parents need to set limits. Children’s answers to the stories will help us understand how they make sense of these moments: how they explain the characters’ actions, what they think about those actions, and how they think the actions make the characters feel. Over time, this work may help parents better navigate such moments in ways that support children’s social development.

20 minutes

You will receive a $5 Amazon.com gift card within a week of participation. To receive the gift card, you must (1) live in the United States and (2) provide a valid consent statement. Your child must (3) be in the age range for the study, (4) be visible on the webcam during the study, and (5) answer questions in English. Additionally, (6) this must be the first time that your child is participating in this study.