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Teaching Problem Solving Skills To Your Kids

Problem-solving skills are important in every stage of life as people can make better choices in different scenarios and environments. Problem-solving skills enable people to be more resilient and confident of their abilities after they have successfully overcome difficulties to solve a problem. This is especially applicable for children in their developing years as problem-solving will teach them to view new situations and challenges from different perspectives. When kids learn and apply their problem-solving skills daily, they will be more cognitively equipped to handle anything life throws at them, whether it is in school or the future at work. Problem-solving skills empower people and ensure that they are in control of their lives and decisions, whilst also being an indicator of independence and initiative. Below are some of the ways you can teach problem-solving skills to your kids and ensure that they are better prepared for life.

Teamwork and Working Together

When faced with a difficult problem at home, do you observe your child constantly asking you for advice? Or does your child prefer to persevere and be persistent about solving the problem? Whilst perseverance is an important value and every child should strive to work hard, the importance of teamwork is equally important in their development. By listening to their friends’ ideas and interacting with them when solving a problem together, your child can enjoy the problem-solving process and also develop teamwork values. Your child would be more cooperative when working with others, be more patient and understanding of the needs of others, and be able to gain fresh insights from others’ perspectives. They can improve in their negotiation and discussion skills and understand the course of action and various processes involved in solving a problem. Studies have shown that children who play and interact with others from a young age exhibit greater teamwork and problem-solving skills.

Brainstorming

Sometimes, not only do you find that you are unable to solve the problem but tackling a problem head on without prior brainstorming may result in more complications for yourself. The importance of brainstorming and thinking ahead cannot be underestimated especially for problems that are more complex and multi-layered. By brainstorming together with your child about the challenges of the problem and the different ways you could solve them, you can form a more comprehensive idea about the problem and the solution. For starters, it is always recommended to identify the root cause of the problem. You could also make a list of every possible solution together with your child and list down the pros and cons of each solution. In this case, your child will be more aware of the positive and negative consequences of each solution. After brainstorming and coming up with a concrete plan, the success rate of solving the problem would be much higher and your child would be more encouraged to try again. Brainstorming is part of the problem-solving process and encourages innovation and open collaboration. Parents should also encourage their children to brainstorm before solving any problem as this is a lifelong skill that creates opportunities for engagement and creativity.
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