How to Teach Problem-Solving Skills to Kids

When you think of your child's education—even if it's several years in the future—you may imagine homework, tests, and hopefully a little play mixed in there! But have you considered what type of skills will actually set your little one up for success? It's no secret to teachers that the learning capacity of a child depends (largely) on her ability to solve problems. And problem solving skills are things you can teach your children right from when they’re infants, through childhood and beyond! Here are 10 effective ways to teach your child problem-solving skills.

Don’t smother your children

One of the greatest mistakes parents make is to not give their child enough space—sometimes, kids need to learn from their errors. Give your child some leeway to be in charge of her own decisions—choosing her own hairstyle, clothing, or extracurricular activities. When you allow your children decision-making power, and the ability to make mistakes, you can teach them how to make progress. 

Encourage her to be creative with her playtime

The truth is that children learn best when it's in the context of  playtime. That's when they're most open to internalizing lessons. If you want to teach your kiddo some solid problem-solving skills, make sure her playtime is challenging and forces her to use her own imagination. Wooden blocks are a perfect example. With a set of blocks your child can create a fort, a castle, or a garbage truck. The sky's the limit! The beauty of encouraging creativity and the use of the imagination during playtime is that with enough time and practice, she'll learn to love problem-solving for its own sake. 

Give her a few challenges in her daily experiences

Your first instinct may be to try and solve your child's problems for her. We're parents after all! But next time your child runs into a issue—whether it be an argument with a friend or a frustration at school—take a step back and let her have some control. Instead of trying to make the decision for her, consider giving her a list of available options—ways she can deal with her issue. See how she handles herself. With this approach, you will encourage her to use the resources available to solve her problems. 

Make problem-solving a part of your home culture

If you really want your children to embrace problem-solving, make it fun. There's no avoiding it—problems are part of everyday life. You experience them and your child will too! Create a culture of approaching problems with a positive attitude. If you do it together as a family, your kids will get used to doing it on their own.

Ask your kids for help

Show your children that you think they're capable of solving problems. Ask them for advice on some things. Ask them what they think. Brainstorm with them and give respect to their ideas. You’d be surprised at the great solutions kids can sometimes come up with.  

Kurt Walker has been working as an essay writer offering personal statement writing service, thesis help, dissertation help, assignment help, and paper writing services at Academized Reviews in London for 3 years. He also offers resume services and is an accomplished content writer and journalist in such topics as productivity, education, and technology.

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