Magda Gerber, a child expert, once said,

“Parenting, or raising a child is an impossible profession. The most impossible profession. Number one, we raise children with the knowledge of the past. It’s already obsolete.”

According to this remark, it may be foolish to imagine that we are trying to raise children for the future when we cannot anticipate the future.  However, Gerber argues that if we embrace this absurdity, we may assist our children to acquire problem-solving abilities, which will help them navigate the world ahead of them.

The good news is that every child is born with the potential to use this ability. From the moment they are born, infants are battling cognitive, physical, emotional, and social components of the world. An infant must learn how to open his or her fist and grasp something in order to grasp a ball in his or her hands. This is the most basic form of problem-solving. As a result, it is the responsibility of parents to safeguard, nurture, and preserve their children’s problem-solving abilities.

 

So, how do we nurture fearless problem solvers in our children?

Here are some tips for you!

Simple Steps Parents Can Take to Help Their Children Grow into Problem Solvers

 

1. Make room for play that encourages problem-solving

Open-ended play is a great way for kids to develop important skills. Problem-solving, creativity, teamwork, communication, and confidence are all developed through free play. Your child will come up with his or her own ideas and creative play sessions around the equipment provided if no content has been curated for them prior to play. This is a type of problem-solving activity in which your child is free to play without any constraints.

When your child is playing with pals, pay attention to what they’re saying and don’t intervene unless the situation becomes untenable. Most of the time, you’ll find that your child can solve problems on his or her own. Taking reasonable risks helps children develop problem-solving skills because they must mentally analyze risk variables before taking action.

 

2. Learn to step back when raising a problem solver

As parents, you intuitively want to save your children from whatever discomfort they may be experiencing. As tough as it is to observe your children’s unhappiness, it’s crucial to remember that unpleasant emotions are a part of their makeup.

Recognize their feelings and let them know you’re there for them. Rather than offering solutions, encourage them to come up with their own. You’re providing kids a chance to practice problem-solving by asking them questions.

“It must be frustrating to have forgotten your pencil case,” you could say if your child forgot his or hers at home. It will come in handy at school. “Do you believe there’s anything we can do about it?”

First and foremost, provide your child with the empathy that they require. Then, ask the questions that indicate you aren’t going to solve the situation for him or her. The response isn’t that you’ll go home and get it for him/her in this case. Despite the disadvantages, your child could go through a school day without his or her pencil case.

As a result of this action, your child will have no writing material for the rest of the day. He/she should be able to overcome this challenge and meet his/her need by borrowing some stationery from pals with some critical thinking abilities.

 

3. Coach your child through problems and concerns

While taking a step back can help to enhance problem-solving abilities in some situations, there will be times when you must intervene. When your children are being bullied or are being treated unfairly at school, your support is crucial.

It may appear to be much easier to swoop in and demand an explanation from the officials at school. In the long run, however, you are not providing your child with the necessary abilities to resolve the situation. Teach your child how to handle difficult situations. You and he can talk about how to approach the other person if they have a problem with your child.

Your critical thinking skills will be put to the test here, as your asking style will elicit a response from them. Rather than responding with, “Mummy and Daddy will go down to school and talk to the bully!” you could question, “If you find yourself in this scenario with the bully again, what can you say to him?” What do you think you can do to stop him within your power?”

 

4. Learn to applaud your children’s mistakes

When our children make mistakes, we are often too quick to chastise them.

When children are criticized for their efforts, they give up. Problem-solvers require assistance in understanding and correcting their errors.

Problem-solving and critical thinking go hand in hand. If you want to raise a child that can solve problems, you must give him or her time to consider and correct mistakes.

 

Seeking support in raising problem solvers

While some children’s problem-solving abilities come naturally to them, others may require some assistance to further develop them. Some parents seek out enrichment programs that focus on the development of soft skills in order to improve their children’s academic talents.

Our lessons and programs at SCC are designed specifically for your children to help them build problem-solving and critical thinking skills. Your child will be encouraged to develop self-confidence in dealing with problems and obstacles that he or she experiences in school and in life during the enrichment programs designed for elementary schoolers.