Three common problem- solving strategies

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1.  Trial and error: Trying different ways to solve a problem until it is resolved.

2.  Algorithm: Following a step- by - step formula to solve the problem.

3. Heuristic: Following a problem - solving framework such as breaking it into steps.

Problems are a part of life, and the sooner children learn to tackle them, the better. Problem- solving for kids is an important skill because it helps them cope with everyday difficulties, challenges them to think differently and learn more critical thinking skills. You may teach problem- solving skills to your children by encouraging them to share their problems, driving them to find their answer, or setting a good example. You can also involve them in problem- solving activities, such as puzzles, scavenger hunts, and mazes. Your focused efforts will help your children grow independent and confident in their skills.   

Ways to encourage your child to utilize their problem- solving skills

1. Test it out

Whenever your child encounters a problem, ask them to acknowledge it and embrace the challenge. If the outcomes are not effective, they can try out different approaches. This will encourage your child to look at a problem from different angles.

2.Ask for advice

Sometimes, you may struggle to make decisions in your everyday life. For instance, you might struggle to decide what to cook for dinner or what to wear to the movies. Ask your children to help make these simple decisions. When you ask them for their advice, it teaches them that they're not the only ones who face problems. When you value their ideas, it will give them the confidence to solve problems independently.

3. Take a deep breath

One of the first steps to effective problem solving is remaining calm. Even with youngsters, when their emotions go out of hand, it's difficult to look at things rationally, and the tendency to make impulsive decisions become higher. It's important to teach your child to take deep breaths every time they feel they're losing control of their emotions. Once they're calm, they can assess the situation better.

4. Verbalise the problem

It will help your child if they verbally express how they feel and what they're struggling with after calming down. It helps them gain perspective and makes it easier for them to come up with potential solutions.

5. Don't provide ''the answer''

While it's difficult to watch your children struggle with an issue, do not give them the answers outright. Instead, give them hints to help them solve the problem independently. This way, they can come up with creative solutions independently.

6. Lead by example

Children are like sponges and pick up things very quickly. So, when you confront a problem and come up with an effective solution, they will notice how you address issues and try to emulate you.

7. Allow natural consequences to unfold

Sometimes, letting the problem run its course is the best way to deal with it. So, when your child is faced with a problem, let them be. Let's suppose your child spent all their weekly allowance in a day or two; let them go the entire week without allowance. This will set them up to make better choices in the future.     

   

Problem- solving activities for children

1. Puzzles

One of the best problem- solving activities for children is puzzles. They come in various difficulty levels. Based on your child's age, you can pick the appropriate one. Give them a puzzle, and they will learn to analyse the problem/ question, find different ways of solving it, and arrive at the solution. Additionally, the activity will help improve their critical- thinking skills, gross motor skills, and hand-eye coordination.

2. Scavenger hunt

One of the educational activities that every parent should introduce to their children is scavenger hunt. It is an inexpensive, easy, fun activity that can be done both indoors and outdoors and requires nothing more than the item you already have at home. The activity allows children to think outside the box. Without being aware, they're learning problem- solving skills in a fun way.

3. Storybooks

  Reading offers a plethora of benefits. One of them is problem- solving. When children read stories, they come across various characters and the roles they play. Most often, children get attached to these characters. So, when they come across a problem, ask them how their favourite characters would have solved it. Encourage them to come up with a variety of solutions and discuss the possible outcomes of each.

4. Crafts

Engaging them in arts and crafts is another excellent way to teach children problem- solving skills. Give your child a variety of materials lying around the house. Let them come up with all sorts of exciting creations or repair broken toys or gadgets. Allow them to work independently and guide them only when they are out of ideas.

5. Open-ended questions

 Asking open- ended questions is an excellent way to improve your child's ability to think creatively and critically and improve their problem- solving skills. With these questions, there's no right or wrong answer, and the answer goes beyond a simple 'no' or 'yes.' They have to put some thoughts into their answers. Here are a few questions you can ask after each session.

- What was difficult? What was easy?

- What did you learn?

- What do you think will happpen next?

- How did you arrive at the solution?

- What would you do differently next time?

6. Maze

Are fun and safe for all age groups. When they work on mazes, it makes them think. The activity also improves their motor skills, observational skills, sense of direction, and problem- solving skills. Think beyond book mazes- you can find many maze games on the web. With practice, they'll get better at finding their way out. Eventually, you can give them more complex mazes to solve.

7. Building with toys

Give your children LEGO blocks, wooden blocks, engineering blocks, etc., and make them build whatever they wish. Building with toys requires your child to think about what to build and how to put the pieces together and come up with creative solutions to ensure its a functional design. You can once in a way ask them to build something challenging, such as a creature with three arms or two towers with a joining bridge. Watch them rack their brains as they try to come up with a structure.

8. Group drawing

Another excellent team- building activity for sharpening children's problem- solving skill is group drawing. Divide children into teams of three. Each of the three players in the team has a role to play.  One person is a drawer, who take directions from the instructor to attempt to create a design. They should stand with their back to the instructor and viewer must not talk. Next is the instructor. The instructor is the one who gives out verbal instructions as to how the drawer must draw a particular design. The viewer looks at the design. But they're not allowed to talk and can only communicate with the instructor via gestures. You have a winner when the viewer is satisfied with the drawer's picture. You can let the children take turns playing different role.   

How do you promote problem solving in children?

1. Name the problem - If you see your child struggling with an activity, give them the language to express what they are finding difficult. Once you have named the problem, follow up with a prompting question that encourages them to take the next step to solve the problem.

For example, if a child spilled water and can't find a cloth to clean it up, you could say: ''That looks like a spill of water. What should we do next?

2. Answer with a question- when a child asks a question, resist the urge to answer immediately. Instead, think about how you could use their query to encourage them to take the next step.

For example, if a child asks: ''Where are my shoes?'' ask them: What were you doing when you were wearing them last?'' Prompting questions will encourage them to track back, problem- solve, and find the solution on their own?

Use prompting questions such as:

- What do you think about me?

- What do you think comes next?

- Which part are you finding difficult?

-  Is there another way you could try that?

- Have you looked at it this way?

- Where could we find the answer?

3. Set the right level of challenge

Develop problem- solving and critical thinking skills by providing children with activities thar are challenging but not impossible. Activities should be a little out of reach and account for the child's stage of development, skill level, and interests.

For example, you would introduce a child who is interested in name writing to the developmentally appropriate language materials, as opposed to presenting a counting activity.

A task that is interesting and appropriately challenging will encourage persistence, which ultimately leads to problem- solving and critical thinking skills, as opposed to frustration and discouragement.

Here is a Video on how to promote problem solving in children.

10 Evaluating activities children can use to improve their problem- solving skills

 

1. They must dance their hearts out.

2. They must work out their brains without logic puzzles or games

3. They must get a good night's sleep

4. They work out to some tunes

5. They must keep an '' Idea Journeyed '' with them.

6. They must participate in Yoga.

7. They must eat some candies and then think about it.

8. They must use mind maps to help visualise the problem.

9. They must create ''Psychological Distance''

10. They must play some sports. 

Types of problem- solving skills children can use?

- Defining the problem

- Brainstorming

- Analysing 

- Managing risk

- Deciding

- Managing emotions

 

Problem Solving Chart

 

1.Define the problem

- You must teach your children on how to diagnose the situation so that they focus on the problem, not just its symptoms. Helpful problem-solving techniques include using flowcharts to identify the expected steps of a process and cause - and - effect diagrams to define and analyse root causes.

2. Generate alternative solutions

- Postpone the selection of one solution until several problem- solving alternatives have been proposed. Once you have decided on the ''what should be'' model, this target standard becomes the basis for developing a road map for investigating alternatives. Brainstorming and team problem- solving techniques are both useful tools in this stage of problem- solving.

3. Evaluate and select an alternative

- A particular alternative will solve the problem without causing other unanticipated problems.

- All individuals involved will accept the alternative.

4. Implement and follow up on the solution

- Regardless of how the solution is rolled out, feedback channels should be built into the implementation.

- Problem- solving and the techniques used to gain clarity are most effective if the solution remains in place and is updated to respond to future changes.

 

3 General Strategies Parents Can Teach their Children about Problem-solving at any Age

1. Model Effective Problem-Solving 

When you encounter a challenge, do a ''think-aloud'' for the benefit of your child. MODEL how to apply the same problem-solving skills you've been working on together, giving the real-world examples that he/she can implement in their own life.

At the same time, show your child a willingness to make mistakes. Everyone encounters problems, and that's okay. Sometimes the first solution you try won't work, and that's okay too! When you model problem-solving, explain that there are some things that are out of their control. As they are solving a problem at hand, they should focus on the things they can actually control. 

2. Ask for Advice 

Ask your kids for advice when you have a problem. This teaches that its common to make mistakes and face challenges, It also gives them the opportunity to practice problem-solving skills. 

Plus, when you indicate that their ideas are valued, they will gain the confidence to attempt solving problems on their own.

3. Don't Provide ''The Answer''

As difficult as it may be, allow your child to struggle, sometimes fail, and ultimately LEARN from experiencing consequences. Now, let's take a look at some age-specific strategies and activities. The ages listed below are general guidelines, feel free to choose any strategies or activities that you feel will work for Your child.  

How to teach problem-solving to children and preteens?

Whether its toys-related conflict, a tough math equation, or negative peer pressure, kids of all age face problems and challenges on a daily basis. As a parent, you can't always be there to solve every problem for your children. In fact, this is not your job. Your job is to teach your children how to solve problems by themselves. This way, they can become confident, independent and successful individuals.

Instead of giving up or getting frustrated when they encounter a challenge, kids with problem-solving skills manage their emotions, think creatively, and persist until they find a solution. Naturally, these abilities go hand-in-hand with a growth mindset. 

How to teach problem-solving skills by age group

*3-5 Years: Use emotional coaching:

               Step 1: Name& validate emotions.

               Step 2: Let them process emotions.

               Step 3: Problem-solving.

- Say, ''show me the hard part.''

- Problem-solve with storybooks (use the ''dialogue-reading'' technique).

- Problem-solve with creative play

*5-7 Years: Teach the problem-solving steps

                 Step 1: What am I feeling?

                 Step 2: What's the problem?

                 Step 3: What are solutions?

                 Step 4: What would happen?

                 Step 5: Which one will I try?

- Problem-solve with craft materials.

- Ask open-ended question. ''How could we work together to solve this? ''What do you think will happen next?''

*7-9Years: Break down problems into chunks

                - Brainstorm together

                - Ask open-ended questions

                - Listen

- Show ''The broken escalator'' video+ have a discussion.

*9-11 Years - Use creative problem-solving with prompts (create a jump ramp for cars,                                design your own game with rules).

                    - Make them work for it (ask HOW they can earn the money to get what they                              want).

                    - Encourage them to put it on paper (problem-solving graphic organizers).

*12+ Years  - Play chess together. Players use critical thinking, creativity, analyses of the 

                       board and more.

                     - Have them learn to code. It promotes creativity, logic, planning and 

                       persistence.

                     -  Encourage to start. meaningful projects   

                     -  Apply the soda method. this method can be used for big or small problems 

                        and encourage them to join problem-solving groups like: Debate, Science fair 

                       and others.

NB: SODAS stands for: S- situation

                                     O- options

                                     D- disadvantages

                                     A - advantages

                                     S - situation    

What Is Problem Solving in General?

The ability to solve problems is a basic life skill and is essential to our day- to day lives, at Home, at School, and at Work. We solve problems every day without really thinking about how we solve them. For example: it's raining, and one wants to go to the store. What will they do? There are possible solutions.  Take their umbrella and walk. If they don't want to get wet, they can drive, or take the bus, or they might decide to go to the store another day. There is no right way to solve this problem and different people will solve it differently.

Problem solving is an act of defining a problem, determining the cause of the problem, identifying, prioritizing, and selecting for alternatives a solution and implementing a solution.