The role problem solving skills play in raising a resilient child
Jessica van der Merwe • September 15, 2020
The role problem solving skills play in raising a resilient child
It is important for children to learn to identify and solve problems early in life as, whether big or small, problems arise on a daily basis. Problem solving skills form an important part of a child’s social emotional development and set them up for success in many different areas. Resilience is important for children’s mental health as children with more resilience are able to cope better with stress and difficult life events.
Here are a few tips on how to introduce problem solving skills to your child to help them to become more resilient in everyday life:
• Vocabulary - Start by introducing the word “problem” to your child. Ask them if they know what the word means. A simple explanation would be, “When something is wrong, we say we have a problem.”
• You can also introduce the word solution, “When we think of a way to fix the problem, we call it a solution.”
• Create a problem scenario at home using concrete resources. For e.g. knock over a toy box to create a mess and say “We have a problem!” – “Can you see what the problem is?” – “Can you fix the problem?” / “Can you think of a solution for this problem?”
• To make it more difficult you could mix different toys together to incorporate sorting skills as well. Start with 2 different types of toys and then progress from there. Sorting activities help children to develop a variety of thinking skills and build the foundation for problem solving. Children have a natural desire to make sense of their world and sorting helps them to create order and bring organization, giving them a sense of feeling in control.
• Continue to develop your child’s problem solving skills by seeking out everyday problems that arise and pointing out that there is a problem. For e.g. spilling something, not sharing, getting hurt, feeling hot or cold, a broken up puzzle and challenging outdoor experiences such as learning how to climb, balance and do the monkey bars.
• Remember to always point out a problem in a calm manner as children also need to learn that it's ok to make mistakes, have accidents or be afraid to try something new.
• Teach your child to solve problems independently by asking them for advice when problems do arise - allow them to say what the problem is as well as to try to come up with a solution.
• It is also important to always have a discussion with your child about how the problem made them feel as well as how they felt once they had come up with a solution.
As parents and teachers, we cannot always be there to solve everyday problems for our children, therefore it is our job to teach them to solve problems for themselves. Rather than feeling frustrated or giving up when facing a challenge, children with problem solving skills are able to manage their emotions, think creatively and persevere until they find a solution.
When children learn to problem solve they experience a sense of achievement and pride. Problem solving helps children to develop an awareness of their abilities which in turn boosts their independence, confidence and self-assurance.
