Helping Your Child Develop their Problem-Solving Skills

Problem-solving is an important skill that children must develop from an early age. It will help them overcome obstacles and become more independent, which are crucial parts of growing up. Parents can help their children develop the ability to solve problems effectively, using the following advice from a private nursery in Surrey.

Be A Good Role Model

The way that you deal with problems in front of your child will rub off on them, so try and bear that in mind. If you rant and rave or give up easily when faced with an issue, your child will likely cope in the same way. With that said, try and deal with your own problems in a calm and confident manner.

Encourage Independence

If you solve problems on your child’s behalf, they will never learn how to do it on their own. So, rather than jumping in to save the day, encourage your child to figure it out on their own, using positive affirmations. Help them identify the problem and encourage them to come up with various solutions. Then ask them to consider the pros and cons of each solution so that they can determine the best option. 

Avoid Punishments

Your child won’t successfully solve every single problem that they are faced with. Rather than punishing them when they fail to overcome an issue, let them know you are proud of them for trying. If they feel like they are going to be in trouble if they don’t get things right on the first go, they will be reluctant to try in the first place. 

Ask Your Child to Help

Practise makes perfect when it comes to problem solving, so it’s a good idea to ask your child to help you with your own problems from time to time so that it becomes familiar to them. Asking them for their opinion or help will also make them feel more confident.