How to help your child become a better problem solver

Problem solving is a massively important skill for children to develop. The ability to solve problems will give your child the confidence and resilience they need to make independent decisions and overcome challenges. As a result, they learn to look at obstacles with an optimistic attitude. So, how can parents help their children become a better problem solver? Here are some tips from a sixth form college in London.

Give your child a chance to think for themselves

If you always step in and solve problems on your child’s behalf, they will never learn how to do it themselves. With this in mind, try and give your child some space. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with giving them prompts and answering questions if they have any but try not to give them the solutions every time. Let them figure things out on their own from time to time so that they can become more confident. 

Promote perseverance

When tackling problems of your own, try not to give up on them. The way you handle your own problems will teach your child the right way to cope. So, let your child see how important perseverance is when overcoming challenges. Giving up is rarely the right answer.

Ask open-ended questions

By asking your child open-ended questions (questions that require more than a yes or no answer) you will encourage them to practise critical thinking. Ultimately, this will make them better problem solvers, because it will allow them to look at things from a different perspective. Here are some examples of open-ended questions:

• What did you learn from this experience? 
• What would you do differently next time?
• What do you think will happen next?
• What makes you say/think that?

Encourage extra-curricular activities

If your child pursues a certain hobby, they will be exposed to more problems that they have to solve. What’s more, they will be able to develop a range of key skills that will help them become more confident and independent. As a result, they will be in a better position to tackle challenging situations.