Helping Your Child Become a Better Problem-Solver

Being a good problem solver is defined by the process of finding solutions to difficult or complex issues. Helping a child become a better problem-solver is by teaching them to turn problems into opportunities so that they learn how to deal with issues better. Children learn best through modelled behaviour, which is usually seen through their parents. They then use this to practice through everyday tasks such as play. The skill starts small such as when they play with puzzles, as they grow older the puzzle pieces get smaller and their fine motor skills develop. Here is some advice from an Independent School in Chesham on helping your child become a better problem solver.

Start by teaching them how to identify the problem. Stating the problem out loud can make a big difference for children who are feeling stuck. By understanding what the real issue is, your child will learn to analyse the problem better and make better decisions when it comes to solving the issue. Once the problem is identified, help them brainstorm different solutions. The key at this point is not to necessarily have great ideas but to just list a good selection of solutions. Instruct them to try and come up with at least five. With a little creativity, they can find many different potential solutions to their problem.

Help them to identify the different pros and cons of each solution. The key to narrowing down to the best possible outcome is to ensure you have looked at which solution will be most beneficial to the current situation. Ask your child to make the judgement as this will teach them to become self-reliant which will help them build confidence in themselves and show their capability. Once they have reached a solution, get them to test it out. If it doesn’t work, they can try another way. This is also a great way to build resilience which is a fantastic skill to attain.

Allow your child to practice problem-solving in real-life scenarios. When problems arise, try not to run in front of them and deal with it before they can as this will not help them to build on their problem-solving skills and can, in turn, make them heavily dependent on you in the future. If they need assistance, that is completely fine. Sit down with them and assure them that this problem will be solved. Allow them to talk through all the solutions and take it from there.