Children will manage life better if they learn problem-solving techniques at a young age. To children, life may appear to be all clear skies and sunshine, but life also includes occasional clouds of grey and thunder. Therefore, preparing children for real-life problems at a young age is a wise decision.

Researchers found that teaching problem-solving skills to kids can improve a child’s mental health and kids who are not introduced to problem-solving skills at a young age have low self-esteem and confidence. 

What Is The Importance Of Problem Solving Skills To Kids?

Children frequently struggle academically or socially. But these are minor problems. Children usually weep or run away from their problems. But if they don’t learn how to confront and solve difficulties while they’re young, they won’t be able to do so when they encounter major problems in the future. Therefore, teaching your children problem-solving techniques is essential if you want them to make better decisions and handle problems without getting frustrated.

8 Best Ways To Raise A Problem-Solver

  1. Get Them Involved In Creative Toys 

Children who play with creative toys can think outside the box. Toys like puzzles and building blocks are a fantastic way to enhance problem-solving abilities. Include them in solving and thinking through crossword puzzles as well. Make sure the youngster has enough mental stimulation throughout the play so they can reason and organize how to solve the puzzles and build the structures with their imagination. 

  1. Engage Kids In Chess Classes

One of the best board games that teach important life skills while having fun in chess. Nowadays, every child can access their social media accounts, but they are not all proficient in playing skill games which involve stimulation. This game will help your kids to provide a great exercise for their brain muscles. Our brains also need exercise in the same way that our bodies do. Chess is a game that extends beyond the board and helps students find solutions to issues both on and off the board. Both on and off the game, they can make wiser decisions. Kids get trained in solving problems to win the game and protect the king. This is how they get trained for real-life problems. So, chess classes can provide your kids enough fun along with building their problem-solving skills. 

  1. Read Problem-Solving Storybooks

Get yourself storybooks in which kids can learn how the protagonist goes through certain hurdles and problems, yet they solve them proficiently with their wits, patience, and decision-making skills. You can read storybooks such as The Little Engine by Watty Piper, Knuffle Bunny by Mo Willems, Dough Knights and Dragons, The Whale In My Swimming Pool by Joyce Wan, and more. Through the world of stories, kids can learn various skills by understanding the lives of characters. 

  1. Enroll Kids In Coding Classes

One of the best and most in-demand skills to master at a young age is coding. Kids can use coding to solve problems in the real world. This is fascinating, right? Coders are in great demand and will also provide a competitive edge in the future.  Numerous applications and websites have made life simpler and solved many problems. Kids learn how to use codes to simplify their lives in this manner. A wonderful way to raise a problem-solver in your child is to invest in coding classes.

  1. Ask Kids To Find A Solution

Take your kids to the kitchen for baking or gardening and ask them for reasonable solutions for some problems you usually face in the kitchen or garden area. You can also give them choices to solve problems. Ask them to sample the cuisine and tell you the name of the spices, ingredients, and potential additions. Ask them what they can add to the dish to make it tangier.  Give them the choice between tomato and lemon. Allow them to see the bubbles when you bake a cake and add baking soda to the batter and ask you questions. 

  1. Ask Them Questions

If your child comes to you and asks for your help to solve puzzles or comes to you with any of his/her problems. Make sure to give them time to think and stimulate their brain for the answers. When you keep providing them answers and solutions to their problems, kids become more dependent and will always come to you for their problems rather than solving themselves. So, whenever they come to you for their problems, ask them a question such as mentioned below –

 

1) How can you make it work?

2) Did you notice anything unusual?

3) How do you think your video game stopped working? 

4) Do you think it’s going to work?

5) What will happen next in the cartoon show?

Ask them open-ended questions according to the situation rather than providing them solutions immediately. 

Conclusion

As parents, you may want to address all of your child’s problems at once. However, doing this for them will undermine their ability to make wise judgments on their own when you are not there. The ability to solve problems does not come naturally to children; instead, it must be developed through a variety of tasks, inquiries, and participation in left-brained activities. Therefore, make sure to try these 8 tips mentioned above. In addition to that, go to PiggyRide if you’re seeking skill-based online classes for your kids. It’s a well-known platform that provides lessons in subjects like chess, dance, music, and coding. Check it out!

Author – 

Hi Friends! I am Nidhi Arora. I am working as a content writer with PiggyRide. I earned a bachelor’s degree in literature from Delhi University and am currently pursuing an MA in Literature. I enjoy writing about everyday issues that will inspire you all to have a more fulfilling life. I’m probably happiest when I’m writing or reading.