What is decisions in instructions (if-then) — explained for kids?

Algorithms make choices with 'if this, then that'. The conditional, explained for Class 3 children.

What's the most common mistake children make about this concept?

If-then instructions are only needed for complicated programs — simple algorithms don't need decisions

How does Dhee Learning teach this in a Class 3 session?

Dhee opens with a question — for example: "Your mum says: 'If it's raining, take an umbrella; otherwise, don't.' Is that an instruction? What makes it different from a normal step like 'put on your shoes'?" — listens to your child's answer, then probes the reasoning behind it. The session ends when the child can apply the idea to a brand-new situation, not just recall it.

If-then decisions — how algorithms make choices

What this concept actually says

Algorithms can include decision points: 'if this condition is true, then do this — otherwise do that'
If-then rules let an algorithm respond differently to different situations
Decisions are what allow instructions to handle more than one possible outcome

An analogy your child will recognise

Monsoon season in India

Every monsoon morning, you make a decision: if there are dark clouds, carry an umbrella; otherwise, leave it at home. That 'if-then-otherwise' thinking is exactly how computers make decisions — they check a condition and then choose what to do next.

A toll booth on a highway

At a toll booth, the rule is: if the driver has a FASTag, the barrier lifts automatically; otherwise, they stop and pay cash. The barrier follows an if-then rule all day long without anyone having to think about it each time.

Common misconceptions to watch for

If-then instructions are only needed for complicated programs — simple algorithms don't need decisions
The 'else' part is optional and the algorithm will still work fine without it

Key facts in one breath

An if-then decision in an algorithm is called a conditional — it checks whether something is true or false
Every decision point has at least two possible paths: one for when the condition is true, one for when it is not
Conditionals allow a single algorithm to handle many different situations
All computer programs contain thousands of if-then decisions running every second

How Dhee Learning teaches this — the 3-stage question loop

Every Dhee Learning session for this concept follows three stages. We share the questions Dhee actually asks, so you can hear what a session sounds like.

Stage 1 — Surface

Your mum says: 'If it's raining, take an umbrella; otherwise, don't.' Is that an instruction? What makes it different from a normal step like 'put on your shoes'?

Rote answer

"Child says 'it has an if in it' without understanding that it represents a choice based on a condition"

Understood

"Child explains that the action changes depending on the situation — if the condition is true, one thing happens; if not, something else happens"

Stage 2 — Reasoning

A robot follows this instruction: 'If the traffic light is green, walk forward; if it is red, stop.' What would happen if we left out the 'if red, stop' part? Why is the ELSE part of an if-then so important?

Follow-up Dhee may use: Can you think of a situation from your day where 'if this, do that — but if NOT this, do something else' happens naturally?

Stage 3 — Application

Write an if-then instruction for a robot guard dog at a school gate: it should let students with a school ID card in, but ask people without one to wait. What are the two possible situations? What does the robot do in each one?

Misconception Dhee watches for: Child writes only the 'if' part and forgets the 'else' — leaving the algorithm with no instruction for the second case

Related concepts

Class 3

When a pattern breaks — spotting the odd one out