How to Develop Problem-Solving Skills in School Children

Problem-solving skills refer to one’s ability to identify problems and come up with a concrete solution. The world is moving at a rapid pace and it is getting flooded by new complexities. To achieve huge success means that school children need to know about the importance of problem-solving skills and the different ways to develop these skills in themselves.

Parents and teachers play an essential role in teaching students how to develop problem-solving skills.

What is the Importance of Problem-Solving Skills for Kids?

Problem-solving skills consist of a broad range of other skills. Critical thinking and decision-making skills are two of those.

The importance of problem-solving skills for kids goes beyond their future careers. Such skills help them in life and social relationships as well. Whether it be choosing between books and movies or dealing with a complicated situation, children often need to think critically, make decisions, and solve the problem by taking action upon the decision made.

What is problem solving exactly?

When we talk about problem solving, there is usually an assumption that we are already familiar with the problem. Steve Jobs is known as a great problem-solver, and he wouldn’t agree with this assumption, as many others do.

• Identifying

Learning how to develop problem-solving skills requires identifying the problem as the first step. It often happens that situations seem so complex that we lose focus on the real problem at hand. So, identifying comes first.

When we understand the actual problem, half of it would itself get solved.

• Brainstorming

After identifying the problem, the next step is to brainstorm solutions to address the problem/situation. Brainstorming boosts the importance of problem-solving skills for kids.

While trying to come up with solutions, students can be made to engage in discussion with peers, thereby increasing their social and collaboration skills. Also, brainstorming with peers, parents, and teachers could help children to find a lot of creative solutions.

• Reviewing/Testing

In learning how to develop problem-solving skills in kids, reviewing is one of the most important steps. After a child is made to think about all possible solutions to a problem, it is time to review what would work and what would not work.

• Executing/Acting

What is problem solving if not acting on the solution devised? Also, it is important for children to remember the pattern of the problem and the solution so as to be able to deal with similar situations efficiently and effectively in the future.

The best teachers in India focus on all these four steps while teaching problem-solving skills to students. The best teachers in India also keep in mind that the learning process takes time. So should parents.

Important Points to Remember

• Problem-solving group activities like scavenger hunts and puzzle games can help speed the process of teaching and learning problem-solving skills.
• Children also get to learn communication skills and increase self-confidence through  problem-solving group activities, so it is advised that parents and teachers should give them such opportunities on a regular basis.
• How to develop problem-solving skills is very much a matter of providing children with a non-judge mental environment where they do not feel embarrassed about coming up with wrong answers.
• Teachers and parents need to be role models and show children how to deal with problems in the best way and how problem-solving skills provide them with a pattern to deal with similar problems in education, life, and career.

(Also, Read: Tips for Parents on How to Deal with Teenage Mood Swings)