Whether it’s a toy-related conflict, a tough math equation, or negative peer pressure, kids of ALL ages face problems and challenges on a daily basis. Show
As parents or teachers, we can’t always be there to solve every problem for our children. In fact, this isn’t our job. Our job is to TEACH our children how to solve problems by themselves. This way, they can become confident, independent, and successful individuals. Instead of giving up or getting frustrated when they encounter a challenge, kids with problem-solving skills manage their emotions, think creatively, and persist until they find a solution. Naturally, these abilities go hand-in-hand with a growth mindset. Before you continue, we thought you might like to download our FREE Your Words Matter Volume 2 Kit. With these 10 one-page parenting guides, you will know exactly how to speak to your child to help them stand up for themselves, be more confident, and develop a growth mindset. So HOW do you teach problem-solving skills to kids? Well, it depends on their age. As cognitive abilities and the size of the child’s challenges grow/evolve over time, so should your approach to teaching problem-solving skills. Read on to learn key strategies for teaching problem-solving to kids, as well as some age-by-age ideas and activities. 3 General Strategies to Teach Problem-Solving at Any Age1. Model Effective Problem-SolvingWhen YOU encounter a challenge, do a “think-aloud” for the benefit of your child. MODEL how to apply the same problem-solving skills you’ve been working on together, giving the real-world examples that she can implement in her own life. At the same time, show your child a willingness to make mistakes. Everyone encounters problems, and that’s okay. Sometimes the first solution you try won’t work, and that’s okay too! When you model problem-solving, explain that there are some things that are out of our control. As we're solving a problem at hand we should focus on the things we CAN actually control. You and your child can listen to Episode 35 of the Big Life Kids Podcast to learn about focusing on what you can control. 2. Ask for AdviceAsk your kids for advice when you have a problem. This teaches them that it’s common to make mistakes and face challenges. It also gives them the opportunity to practice problem-solving skills. Plus, when you indicate that their ideas are valued, they’ll gain the confidence to attempt solving problems on their own. 3. Don’t Provide “The Answer”As difficult as it may be, allow your child to struggle, sometimes fail, and ultimately LEARN from experiencing consequences. Now, let’s take a look at some age-specific strategies and activities. The ages listed below are general guidelines, feel free to choose any strategies or activities that you feel will work for YOUR child. 3-5 YearsUse Emotion CoachingTo step into a problem-solving mindset, young children need to first learn to manage their emotions. After all, it’s difficult for a small child to logically consider solutions to a problem if he’s mid-tantrum. One way to accomplish this is by using the emotion coaching process outlined by John Gottman. First, teach your kids that ALL emotions are acceptable. There are NO “bad” emotions. Even seemingly negative emotions like anger, sadness, and frustration can teach us valuable lessons. What matters is how we respond to these emotions. Second, follow this process:
Say, “Show Me the Hard Part”When your child struggles or feels frustrated, try a technique suggested by mom and parenting blogger Lauren Tamm. Simply say, “Show me the hard part.” This helps your child identify the ROOT of the problem, making it less intimidating and easier to solve. Repeat back what your child says, “So you’re saying…” Once you both understand the real problem, prompt your child to come up with solutions. “There must be some way you can fix that…” or “There must be something you can do…” Now that your child has identified “the hard part,” she’ll likely be able to come up with a solution. If not, help her brainstorm some ideas. You may try asking the question, “If you DID know, what would you think?” and see what she comes up with. Problem-Solve with Creative PlayAllow your child to choose activities and games based on her interests. Free play provides plenty of opportunities to navigate and creatively solve problems. Children often learn best through play. Playing with items like blocks, simple puzzles, and dress-up clothes can teach your child the process of problem-solving. Even while playing, your child thinks critically: Where does this puzzle piece fit? What does this do? I want to dress up as a queen. What should I wear? Where did I put my tiara? Is it under the couch? Problem-Solve with StorybooksRead age-appropriate stories featuring characters who experience problems, such as:
Connect these experiences to similar events in your child’s own life, and ASK your child HOW the characters in these stories could solve their problems. Encourage a variety of solutions, and discuss the possible outcomes of each. This is a form of dialogue reading, or actively ENGAGING your child in the reading experience. Interacting with the text instead of passively listening can “turbocharge” the development of literacy skills such as comprehension in preschool-aged children. By asking questions about the characters’ challenges, you can also give your child’s problem-solving abilities a boost. You can even have your child role-play the problem and potential solutions to reinforce the lesson. For book suggestions, refer to our Top 85 Growth Mindset Books for Children & Adults list. 5-7 YearsTeach the Problem-Solving StepsCome up with a simple problem-solving process for your child, one that you can consistently implement. For example, you might try the following five steps:
Consistently practice these steps so that they become second nature, and model solving problems of your own the same way. It's a good idea to reflect: What worked? What didn’t? What can you do differently next time? Problem-Solve with Craft MaterialsCrafting is another form of play that can teach kids to solve problems creatively. Provide your child with markers, modeling clay, cardboard boxes, tape, paper, etc. They’ll come up with all sorts of interesting creations and inventive games with these simple materials. These “open-ended toys” don’t have a “right way to play,” allowing your child to get creative and generate ideas independently. Ask Open-Ended QuestionsAsking open-ended questions improves a child’s ability to think critically and creatively, ultimately making them better problem-solvers. Examples of open-ended questions include:
Open-ended questions have no right answer and can’t be answered with a simple “Yes” or “No.” You can ask open-ended questions even when your child isn’t currently solving a problem to help her practice her thinking skills, which will come in handy when she does have a problem to solve. If you need some tips on how to encourage a growth mindset in your child, don't forget to download our FREE Your Words Matter Volume 2 Kit. 7-9 YearsBreak Down Problems into ChunksThis strategy is a more advanced version of “Show me the hard part.” The bigger your child gets, the bigger her problems get too. When your child is facing a challenge that seems overwhelming or insurmountable, encourage her to break it into smaller, more manageable chunks. For instance, let’s say your child has a poor grade in history class. Why is the grade so low? What are the causes of this problem? As usual, LISTEN as your child brainstorms, asking open-ended questions to help if she gets stuck. If the low grade is the result of missing assignments, perhaps your child can make a list of these assignments and tackle them one at a time. Or if tests are the issue, what’s causing your child to struggle on exams? Perhaps she’s distracted by friends in the class, has trouble asking for help, and doesn’t spend enough time studying at home. Once you’ve identified these “chunks,” help your child tackle them one at a time until the problem is solved. Show “The Broken Escalator Video”Discuss the importance of embracing challenges and solving problems independently with the “broken escalator video.” In the video, an escalator unexpectedly breaks. The people on the escalator are “stuck” and yelling for help. At this age, it’s likely that your child will find the video funny and immediately offer a solution: “Just walk! Get off the escalator!” Tell your child that this is a simple example of how people sometimes act in difficult situations. Ask, “Why do you think they didn’t get off the escalator?” (they didn’t know how, they were waiting for help, etc.) Sometimes, your child might feel “stuck” when facing problems. They may stop and ask for help before even attempting to find a solution. Encourage your child to embrace challenges and work through problems instead. 9-11 YearsProblem-Solve with PromptsProvide your child or a group of children with materials such as straws, cotton balls, yarn, clothespins, tape, paper clips, sticky notes, Popsicle sticks, etc. With just these materials, challenge your kids to solve unusual problems like:
This is a fun way to practice critical thinking and creative problem-solving. Most likely, it will take multiple attempts to find a solution that works, which can apply to just about any aspect of life. Make Them Work for ItWhen your child asks for a new toy, technology, or clothes, have her make a plan to obtain the desired item herself. Not only will your child have to brainstorm and evaluate solutions, but she’ll also gain confidence. Ask your child HOW she can earn the money for the item that she wants, and encourage her as she works toward her goal. Put It on PaperHave your child write out their problems on paper and brainstorm some potential solutions. But now, she takes this process a step further: After attempting each solution, which succeeded? Which were unsuccessful? Why? This helps your child reflect on various outcomes, learning what works and what doesn’t. The lessons she learns here will be useful when she encounters similar problems in the future. Ages 12+Play Chess TogetherLearning to play chess is a great way for kids to learn problem-solving AND build their brains at the same time. It requires players to use critical thinking, creativity, analysis of the board, recognize patterns, and more. There are online versions of the game, books on how to play, videos, and other resources. Don’t know how to play? Learn with your teen to connectand problem solve together! Have Them Learn To CodeOur teens and tweens are already tech-savvy and can use their skills to solve problems by learning to code. Coding promotes creativity, logic, planning, and persistence. There are many great tools and online or in-person programs that can boost your child’s coding skills. Encourage to Start a Meaningful ProjectThis project has to be meaningful to your teen, for example starting a YouTube channel. Your teen will practice problem-solving skills as they’re figuring out how to grow their audience, how to have their videos discovered, and much more. In the Big Life Journal - Teen Edition, there’s a section that guides them through planning their YouTube channel and beginning the problem-solving process. Apply the SODAS MethodLooking for a game plan that your teen can employ when faced with a problem? The SODAS method can be used for big or small problems. Just remember this simple acronym and follow these ideas:
Encourage to Join Problem-Solving GroupsDoes your teen enjoy solving problems in a team? Have them join a group or club that helps them hone their skills in a variety of settings--from science and robotics to debating and international affairs. Some examples of groups include:
Looking for additional resources? The Bestseller’s Bundle includes our three most popular printable kits packed with science-based activities, guides, and crafts for children. Our Growth Mindset Kit, Resilience Kit, and Challenges Kit work together as a comprehensive system designed specifically for children ages 5-11. What is the term for the support of learning and problem solving that encourages independence and growth?Scaffolding. Scaffolding- the support for learning and problem solving that encourages independence and growth.
What is the term for the support for learning and problem?What is the term for the support for learning and problem-solving that encourages independence and growth? Scaffolding.
Which term refers to the use of strategies for solving social conflicts?Social problem solving. What is the term that means the use of strategies for solving social conflicts in mutually satisfactory ways? Coregulation.
What Vygotsky calls the level at which a child can almost but not fully comprehend or perform a task on his or her own?Zone of Proximal Development and Scaffolding: Vygotsky's best known concept is the Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD). Vygotsky stated that children should be taught in the ZPD, which occurs when they can almost perform a task, but not quite on their own without assistance.
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