It is important for children to develop problem-solving skills as they grow and develop, and there are many simple - and fun! - ways you can work on this with your children at home. Give these little games and tools a try!
- Hmmm. I wonder what we could do? Problems exist in our everyday lives. Some are very small - like finding a way to reach something that is high on a shelf, and some are bigger - like being stranded on the side of the road with a flat tire. For everyday small problems, let your child solve them on their own. Your daughter wants a cookie from the cookie jar? "Hmmm, I wonder what you could do to reach that cookie jar?" Allow her to look around the room and find a step stool. Your son wants to open a bag of goldfish crackers? Let him try. Let him use a tool. Let him find scissors and snip on his own. Or teach him how to find someone and ask for help using a word or a sign. - Avoid solving problems for kids. As parents, we naturally want to make things easier for our kids, but that is not always best! Give them the time and space to figure things out on their own. For example, if you are getting out a tub of Legos, don't open the bin for the kids. Let them try! - Give them scenarios. This can be a fun game while riding in the car or sitting around the dinner table. Ask your children, "What could you do if..." and then give them some age-appropriate scenarios. For an older child, "What could you do if you're home alone and a stranger knocks on the door?" or "What would you do if you are at the movie theater waiting for a ride, and your cell phone dies?" For younger children, you might ask "What could you do if we are at the zoo and we get lost from each other?" or "What could you do if your friend wants to play Sorry and you want to jump on the trampoline?" Try some silly ones too! "What could you do if you're playing outside, and you see an elephant walking down the street?" - Offer choices. Let them be involved in decisions throughout their lives. When they are little, this might be the choice between two shirts or two snacks. When they are older, this might be the choice between playing soccer or taking gymnastics, or the choice between going to a friend's birthday party or a fun family activity. Try these simple things at home, and look for more problem-solving activities to come!
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AuthorHi, I'm Brie Krentz, and I'm the School Psychologist at HGECC. I care about the social, emotional, behavioral, and mental health of all of our children, and I believe in Conscious Discipline as a way to minimize behavior problems and to help children connect meaningfully with others. Archives
October 2021
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