We all know the importance of teaching our kids to be better problem solvers. But do we understand why we need to do this and why we should inculcate problem solving skills in them? The World Economic Forum reports that the number one skill that employers seek today and in the future is Complex Problem Solving skills, and it provides the power to change things for the betterment.

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We need to develop problem solving skills in kids and make them practice from kindergarten to high school graduation. Hands-on problem-solving solutions help understand the problems and solve technical and non-technical issues. Today’s job landscape is changing rapidly. Moreover, jobs that will be there in future years do not exist yet.

We need to make sure that kids can solve complex problems because jobs will still have problems no matter how fast technologies like AI and ML are adopted. We need to make sure that kids are prepared for the challenges they might have to face in the future, and problem solving skills will play a key role in their success in whichever field they choose.

Listed below are the ways to develop problem solving skills in kids.

Identify the problem

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Identifying the problem is the crucial step towards effectively solving the problem. There should be an atmosphere at home where kids can freely talk about their issues. They should be confident that their family members will understand and not bash them. Give them the confidence to speak about their problem and identify the problem. problem solving skills Helping kids talk about the different types of issues will help them slowly identify the problems.

Finding Possible Solutions

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When you hear the kids’ problems, ask them to brainstorm and find possible solutions to the problems they are facing. Ask them to write down the problem and the possible solutions they think can help resolve the issue. You can also help your child find the solution if they find it difficult and are struggling to find the solution.

List down the pros and cons of each solution

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Once the child has done brainstorming, ask them to list down the pros and cons of each solution. Knowing the positive and negative aspects of each identified solution will help them find which solution will work best.

Testing the solution

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Ask your kids to test all the solutions and see what happens. If one solution doesn’t work, ask your child to try the other one until they come to know which is the first solution from the list of solutions they found.

Picking the Best Solution

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Kids can properly evaluate the possible negative or positive outcomes and pick up the solution. You can also help your child pick up the solution that you believe will work best. This way, they will be able to come up with the best solution that will help them resolve the issue.

Acknowledge the Problem Solving

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Once your child has resolved the problem by identifying it, finding solutions, and then acting upon one solution that works best to resolve the issue, you can celebrate the brave work. And pat their back simultaneously, praising them for finding the right solution and handling the situation smartly. This would encourage them in future scenarios.

Don’t ignore the efforts

Even if the child cannot get the issue resolved, help them out and praise them for their efforts to solve the problem. This would not leave them discouraged for not solving the problem on their own.

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We have listed down the possible ways to help inculcate problem solving skills in kids. However, it becomes necessary to point out the don’ts that hinder the development of  problem solving skills in kids. 

As Parents you should Avoid:

Scolding them for making mistakes

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Do not be such a parent who chases perfection. We all learn from our mistakes, and how will your child learn if they don’t make mistakes. Making mistakes is part of the learning process, and accept that they have made a mistake and help your child solve the problem by finding the solution that works best.

Forcing them to keep studying

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Children learn best through play. Studying is essential, but we can’t deny the importance of creativity and co-curricular activities like sports, music, dance, art, and craft. Every day, besides studies, ask them to take out time to play creatively. Allow your child to get involved in games like building blocks, puzzles, riddles, guess the word, scramble, etc.

Asking your child to solve the problem on their own

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Even if you know that it is entirely your child’s mistake that he has landed up in a problematic solution, don’t shout or scold them. Instead, help your child find the solution and make them understand how the problem could have been avoided or how to handle such a situation in the future.

  1. Providing the solution/answer
  2. No matter how difficult it might be, don’t just find the solution for your child. You can lend a helping hand but providing them with the answers/solutions is a complete No. Allow your child to struggle, try, fail and learn to find the solution.

Effectively solving a problem is a skill that we all should possess, and it is essential tin instill this skill in kids at a very young age. It would be best if you made your child learn how to solve their problems from the very beginning. Let your child make mistakes, find solutions and thus develop problem solving skills. Do not make the process of inculcating the problem solving skills in children a fuss; instead, make it fun so that the child enjoys it while unknowingly developing this life skill.