5 Ways to Help Your Young Child Problem Solve
Are you tired of your toddler throwing tantrums, kicking and screaming? Are you looking for ways to help your child problem-solve at home? If so, keep reading. We’ll tell you about five simple strategies that will encourage your toddler to problem-solve on their own—without having to resort to tears or temper tantrums (yours or theirs!).
What is a toddler?
A toddler is a person who is between the ages of one and two years old.
What are some problems that toddlers encounter in their daily lives? These include:
"I want to play with my toys, but I'm not allowed to because they're dangerous."
"My brother won't share his toys with me because he's mean."
"Mommy doesn't have time for me right now because her friend needs help fixing something."
Now, let’s get into these 5 steps that can help get the problem solving mindset going!
1. Be Curious
The first way to help your child problem solve is to be curious. You might think that you don't have a lot in common with your child, but it's likely that they're as interested in the world around them as you are, and there are plenty of ways for you to express that curiosity together.
A lot of people use their smartphones when they're bored or waiting for something—but what about when we can spend time with our kids? Instead of checking Facebook updates on your phone, why not ask questions about what your kid likes? For example:
“What did you do at school today?”
“How did the math test go?”
Or even simpler than that: just listen! Most kids like talking about themselves anyway—they'll appreciate the chance to share their stories with an attentive audience (you).
2. Take It Slowly, Step-by-Step
Take it slowly, step-by-step.
Use a calm, patient voice.
Use a calm, patient tone of voice.
Use a calm, patient body language (no pointing or waving your arms around).
And don't forget to use a calm, patient facial expression (no frowning or grimacing).
3. Choose When to Intervene
Don't interfere with your child's attempts to solve a problem.
Do not help your child if it is not clear that they are struggling. It can be tempting to jump in and give advice, but children learn by doing, not by having their parents do things for them. For example, if your son wants to put his shoes on and has trouble tying them, don't step in and tie them for him; instead, let him try until he masters the skill himself (you may need to offer guidance or assistance by explaining how).
Do not give up on your child if they are having trouble solving a problem. Sometimes kids simply need more time than others when it comes to learning certain skills—and this is normal! If you feel like your child needs some extra help or practice with something new, find fun ways to help them practice that skill, regularly.
4. Notice Your Child’s Effort and Successes
Notice Your Child’s Effort and Successes
As a parent, it’s important to notice your child’s effort and successes. It is easy to focus on the final outcome of a problem-solving activity, but don't forget that there are many smaller successes along the way that deserve recognition as well. Try not to focus too much on what didn't happen or what went wrong, but instead acknowledge the steps they took towards solving their problem successfully. Also, don't get discouraged if it doesn't work out right away! Encourage them by saying something like "I know you tried really hard in this situation. Let's think about how we can try again next time."
5. Let Your Child Lead the Way
Let your child lead the way.
It's tempting to step in and direct a problem-solving process, but kids learn best when they're allowed to figure things out on their own. A toddler may know what they want or don't want, but they might not have enough language development yet to be able to communicate their needs clearly. If you offer too much guidance, you'll take away opportunities for them to develop self-regulation skills and internalize conflict resolution strategies.
Toddlers are surprisingly good at solving problems, given the right environment and circumstances.
Conclusion:
In the end, it’s important to remember that your child’s ability to problem solve is not just a matter of intelligence; it also involves their level of confidence. This is why it’s so important for parents to give them opportunities and encouragement whenever possible. And if you need some help getting started with this process, feel free to subscribe and fill out an email, I'd love to help! I know, from experience with my Preschool kiddos, that this kind of support can really make all of the difference.
Tools That Can Help Your Child Problem Solve:
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