Helping Your Child Become a Better Problem Solver

Life has its hiccups whether you're 35 and you’ve fumbled the interview for your dream job, or you're 7 and you’ve not been picked to play in the school rounders team. Things don’t always go our way. However, learning to put things in perspective can help create a more proactive, resilient mindset. Children may be inclined to outsource their problem-solving workload to parents, but making all your child’s troubles disappear doesn’t teach them how to be self-reliant, a quality they’ll need to rely on later in life. An independent school in Wolverhampton has shared their advice on how you can help your child gain the confidence and tenacity they need to tackle their problems head-on. Keep reading to find out more.

Reflect & Evaluate
Allow your child to air their feelings, but encourage them to channel their energy into coming up with solutions. Why did things go wrong? What have they learnt? What might they do differently next time? As cliché as it may sound, set-backs always come with an opportunity to learn. Spending time reflecting on a failure puts the child back in the driver’s seat and gives them a sense of control in the situation, giving them less inclination to simply wallow in self-pity.

Weighing Solutions
Taking time to consider options before jumping into action can help children deal with problems more effectively. When faced with a challenge, encourage your child to think of the different ways they could approach it. Making lists, and weighing up the pros and cons of each option will develop their critical thinking skills and help them make informed decisions rather than being led by their emotions.

Deconstructing Problems
Sometimes your child will have days that feel overwhelming or as though everything is going wrong. Help them break their problems down into smaller chunks and deal with one element at a time. Having a mind full of things they are worried about can feel overwhelming, so writing things down can help to organise their thoughts and make their mental load feel lighter. Once it’s all written down on paper they can start to work through each point and come up with solutions. Checking off each task or obstacle will give them a sense of achievement and boost their self-esteem.

 

*Collaborative post