We are enrolling! Join us in nurturing young minds, fostering creativity, and creating a brighter future. We're excited to introduce your child to a world of possibilities! Contact us today for details.
Part of a parents’ job is to teach their children how to solve problems independently. Whether it is conflict with a sibling, a difficult task at school, or a mean kid at school, your preschooler will face tough challenges each day. Here are a few ways to start teaching your preschooler to be a problem solver.
Name Emotions
Help your preschooler identify what emotions they are feeling when they encounter a problem. Are they angry? Sad? Overwhelmed? Then talk through how to process that emotion properly. There are no bad emotions, but there are bad responses.
Creative Play
Role playing, watching a show aimed at preschoolers, or reading a book can all be helpful for your child. Children learn best through play. As you are reading, watching a show, or playing together, stop and talk about the ways to solve the problems they will experience. Even watching a parent model how to solve a problem can provide a great example for the preschooler.
Think Aloud
Obviously, your preschooler will not be able to handle an elaborate problem-solving method, but you can begin to teach them to look for solutions. Help them recognize the pros and cons of certain actions. Ask them “What would happen if…?” questions. Help them develop a plan by giving them something to try. Preschoolers are more concrete, hands-on learners, but it is beneficial for them to start practicing the thought processes of problem solving. As you talk through and brainstorm ideas, parents, make sure you are listening! Your child is more likely to implement a plan that they came up with.
Allow Failure
As easy as it can be for parents to just give their preschooler an answer or solve the problem for them, do not do it! Your preschooler needs to struggle and sometimes fail in order to learn about consequences.
Instead of giving up or getting frustrated when they encounter a challenge, preschoolers with problem-solving skills manage their emotions, think creatively, and find a solution!
If you enjoyed this blog, please take a look at our school’s blog page. There you will find blogs on a wide variety of topics that we believe will be beneficial to you and your family.
Want to learn more about Kids ‘R’ Kids Learning Academy of Mableton located in Mableton, Georgia? Our mission is to provide secure, nurturing, and educational environments for children ages 6 weeks – 12 years. We help children to bloom into responsible, considerate, and contributing members of society. For more information, give us a call or stop by for a tour! We’d love to get to know you and your family.