PROBLEM SOLVING ACTIVITIES FOR PRESCHOOLERS
Our children face problems everyday be it as simple as building a tower without falling apart or as complex as facing peer pressure. It’s impossible for parents to help them solve all these problems nor it’s wise to do so.
But we can help them in one way. We can train them from young age to problem solve with confidence.
A person uses their own knowledge and experience, as well as the information at hand to try and reach a solution. Problem solving is therefore about the thought processes involved in finding a solution.
Let me give an example :
Let me give you an example how my toddler used his problem solving skills yesterday. His favourite toy was on the top shelf and he tried to reach for it a while. But it was too high.
I was watching and I could have helped but I wanted to see what he was going to do. He looked around and dragged a small stool to hop in and reach for his toy. He went away with the toy and a cheeky smile on his face.
Yes I am proud of my little boy and proud of myself for not offering help and observing the whole situation to make sure he doesn’t do anything unsafe.
When my 5 year old daughter is playing with mud , I let her make her own mud adding little bit of water at a time. Through trial and error she learns to make the right consistency.
Intentional or unintentional problem solving scenarios like these are going to stimulate their brain cells and give them the foundation to solve more and more complex problems successfully.
So let’s see some everyday activities we can do with our kids to help them learn this amazing skill.
Scavenger hunt for problem solving skills
Problem solving activities such as scavenger hunts can be great fun for preschoolers, as they help to engage their inquisitive minds and hone their problem solving skills.
Scavenger hunts bring out the detective in everyone, as children have to use resourcefulness and logical thinking to locate objects or decode puzzles.
The joy of completing each challenge can spur children towards tougher problems, helping them build the confidence needed for more complex tasks later on in life. Different environments provide different opportunities for learning so look around your neighborhood before beginning your hunt to see what exciting puzzles you can come up with!
Ask questions during playtime to draw out answers from preschoolers
Playing is an important part of learning for preschoolers, and when it comes to fun problem-solving activities, asking questions can help draw out answers from these kids.
You can ask open -ended questions that are specifically related to their interests, or ones that indirectly motivate them to be active participants in the game.
For example, if your kid likes dinosaurs you could ask “what kind of dinosaur do you think will look best on the volcano?”. Not only does it engage the little one in conversation but also encourages them to critically think and find new answers.
Games like this would not only benefit their mental development but also help strengthen their bond with you. So go ahead and get creative with your questions during playtime!
Formulate simple problems that can be solved with everyday items
Problem solving activities have been proven to help preschoolers develop cognitive and creative thinking abilities.
One of the simplest yet effective activities you can do with a group of tots is formulating simple problems that can be solved with everyday items. Whether it’s connecting dots, combining shapes to create new images, or assembling a puzzle of different elements, these activities provide an entertaining way for kids to practice sequencing skills and problem solving techniques.
They also give them the confidence to work out their own solutions when faced with similar situations in the future. Plus, we all know how much toddlers like playing around with everyday items – so why not turn those playtime moments into meaningful learning sessions?
Start with simple puzzles to help your child develop problem-solving skills
Puzzles are a great way for them to use their problem solving skills. Children need to remember shapes, colours, positions and strategies to complete them. When done wrong, they quickly go back to where it was and reevaluate the shapes, colours and positions to make it right.
Teach basic counting and math using everyday items
Learning math doesn’t have to be a daunting task! Have some fun with counting and math by incorporating everyday items.
Problem solving activities like matching pairs, sorting objects, or grouping items can introduce basic counting concepts that help engage young children in the learning process.
Getting creative with everyday items such as coins, utensils, dishes, chips, straws and more can provide lots of hands-on learning opportunities and help develop the mathematical skills necessary for strong problem solving in preschoolers. So grab some common objects around the house and let the teaching begin!
Encourage creativity through drawing, colouring, and pretend play
As parents and caregivers of young children, encouraging creativity is a great way to promote problem solving skills.
From drawing to colouring and pretend play, there are countless activities that can give preschoolers space to express themselves while they build important spatial reasoning and language skills.
Not only do these activities make learning fun, but it can also provide kids the opportunity to use their imagination and explore curiosity in a supportive setting. Provide your child with access to colourful crayons and markers, assorted materials like fabric scraps or magazines for collage art – let their imagination take off!
Related article : Develop Creativity Skills
Give instructions as questions so your child can figure out the answers
Set up scenarios that require your child to use their imagination and make choices
Encouraging your preschooler to use their imagination and make choices can be a fun way to help them learn problem-solving skills. You could create interactive scenarios with them, such as giving them stories that they must solve through their own decisions.
Perhaps you could describe a situation or a mission and then ask them what they would do; this will get your child thinking of different solutions and potential outcomes.
Letting your child lead the way in story-telling or roleplay is another great way to explore imaginary worlds, allowing them to come up with their own ideas into the characters, plot, and events. By setting up creative problem solving activities for preschoolers you can help foster basic reasoning abilities and a healthy level of independence from an early age.
Indoor/ Outdoor obstacle course
This activity requires kids to think creatively about how to get from one point to another while maneuvering around obstacles. If you have outdoor space, this can be done with common objects such as hula hoops, cones, etc.
If you don’t have access to an outdoor space, you can use common household items to create an indoor obstacle course. For example, you can use chairs, blankets, pillows, etc.
Begin by setting up the course and then timing each child as they complete it. You can also have them race against each other to make it more fun.
Obstacle courses are also great because kids get to be physically active while they are thinking critically.
Pretend play
Roleplaying is a fun way to expose your child to new experiences or situations in a safe, low-pressure setting. Join your child in creative play and gently guide them towards scenarios that require problem solving.
For instance, if you’re playing school, take on the role of a student who doesn’t want to do the assigned activity. If you’re playing grocery store, act as if a power outage has made the cash register inoperable. What should we do now? Invite your child to save the day with their solution and talk about a variety of ways they could tackle the problem.
Conclusion
Problem solving is an essential life skill that we need throughout our life. It’s not a skill we can develop overnight, so starting play-based activities from early on helps a lot in acquiring competent problem solving skills as an adult.
For problem solving for pre-teens and teens, Problem Solving Steps
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