Helping Your Child to Become a Better Problem Solver

There is no doubt that problem solving is one of the most important life skills to teach your child, but it can be anxiety-inducing trying to figure out where to start. Seeing your child frustrated or angry when they encounter a problem is never fun and when they’re small, it’s very tempting to step in and provide a solution. However, it’s vital that children are given the chance to solve problems for themselves.

You can help small children to do this by guiding them slightly but always remaining passive when it comes to applying the fix.

 Let’s imagine your toddler is struggling to cover some chairs with a blanket to create a den. Now, as an adult you can see the issues. Maybe they’re simply too small or maybe they don’t have the hand-eye coordination – don’t do it for them though!

Show them where the issue is and how to mend it – then step back. Ask questions, discuss their progress. Help a little if needed but make sure they get to complete the task. Cheer them on as they try and celebrate when they succeed.

These early, positive experiences can deeply affect children’s prospects and teaches them that by continuing to try different approaches will get results.

It is important for children to think creatively in order for them to start coming up with solutions. Expose your child to as many creative activities as you can. Art, performance, music and literature are all vital for learning.

Encouraging your child to read fiction may have positive benefits when it comes to problem solving. When children see how fictional characters get in and out of troubling situations, they absorb those situations as life lessons and examples. In some cases, it can be good to tell your child stories of your own predicaments and allow them to see that everyone can make mistakes and learning from them is very beneficial.

Allowing your child to make mistakes is crucial. If a child makes a mistake, they can then look back, work out where things went wrong and begin to think of new ways in which to approach situations.

It’s no secret that trial and error is the key to learning any skill! At this independent school in Hammersmith, children are given many opportunities to learn in creative and fun ways. This in turn results in free-thinking, hard working students who don’t give up too easily.

Children will naturally learn how to problem solve as they go through their early life and experience and observe various problems. Always try to be present to talk about their efforts, their ambitions and their experiences – this is something which children will always remember as a positive influence in their lives.

K Elizabeth xoxox

*Collaborative Post