Solving problems is critical to a child’s general development. They will slowly show your child how they can manage different issues as they arise, and it comes down to the many different experiences a child encounters alongside their learning journey.
When your child is young a lot of problems won’t come naturally to them. Private primary schools in Oxford cater to this by putting problems in front of children to learn the process of coping under pressure and being able to navigate different issues. And at home you can also replicate these methods to help your child become a lot more versed in the art of solving problems in their own ways.
Here are some top tips to help your child with their problem solving.
Start with the basics
At toddler age your child is very new to the experience of solving problems. There’s a lot of posing problems in front of them so that they can manage different requirements, and it means that they get to try out lots of different scenarios as well. This often starts with toys and putting them in front of your child to see how they react to them.
Building blocks are a popular toy with kids as they can hold them in different ways, and also connect them to other blocks and pieces. You can also use toys with shapes, threading toys or other toys that have different sensory features to get them to understand how a problem can begin.
Take on problems in steps
The next step is to break things down into manageable steps. Seeing that your child can handle these problems will come from assessing a situation and managing it in their own way. When a problem arises, either planned or one that appears to your child, you can start breaking things down into manageable chunks.
Talk your child through these processes as they happen. For example, if your child drops their pot of yoghurt all over the floor, talk to your child about how they go and find some kitchen roll and wipe up the mess. Clean it with them, and then over time let your child do the cleaning for themselves. The first few times your child might feel embarrassed or upset, which is where you talk to your child about their feelings. See what they need from you to overcome different problems.
Let your child fail
Failure shouldn’t be a time where your child has to manage their issues by themselves and learn to live with them. Failure happens to us all, and it is a time for learning and reflection with children. To help our children learn to cope better, we recommend showing your child how to overcome mistakes and normalise the process of failing. Learning from these moments is imperative to your child’s success, and they also get the experience of how it feels in a safe environment.
Over time, your child will become a lot more versed in solving problems because of the teachings you gave them. Making them feel positive after making a mistake builds up their resilience and confidence.
Let your child feel independent
Independence also goes a long way in helping your child feel comfortable to handle new issues and solve them in their own way. Give your child different tasks to help with their independence, such as handing them chores and leaving them on their own for a few hours (when they are of the right age). This shows that you have confidence in them, and helps them learn to cope on their own for short periods of time.
As your child gets older this can be increased. You can soon start to see that your child is able to easily manage themselves under pressure. It can be especially useful in emergencies, like if you are called to work or have to help at the last minute. If your child has a sibling then it’s an even better test of their skills – they can both bounce ideas off each other when this happens.
