How to Practice Problem Solving Skills with Children
Problems are a part of everyday life, and learning to deal with them is a craft that children can effectively develop. Whether dealing with an educational endeavor or social situation, problem-solving is a valuable life skill. Effective problem-solving is not generally innate, but is acquired and perfected through practice and application of techniques. Learning to problem-solve will likely help children achieve success in all aspects of their social and academic careers.
Instructions
-
-
1
Have students identify the problem they need to solve. Whether a word problem or a social issue, clarify the problem completely before children can begin working on a solution.
-
2
Develop a plan to approach the problem. For instance, there may be many ways to solve a division problem. Children can try solving one way and then switch to another if they do not experience success. Trial-and-error can help children develop problem-solving skills.
-
-
3
Use teachable moments such as when children run into an unexpected problem during a lesson or on the playground. Ask them what they think the best approach would be to solve the problem and then guide them to a solution.
-
4
Give children increasingly difficult problems to solve. Start with simple one- or two-step problems they can answer easily and progressively add more complexity to allow them to use prior experiences to improve upon their problem-solving skills.
-
5
Relate problems to real life. If a student is experiencing difficulty working out a division problem, give her the problem in more understandable terms -- such as money -- to help her develop a more concrete understanding of the problem.
-
6
Encourage discussion among peers. Have students work with each other to solve problems using different opinions and viewpoints. Make sure group members accept all answers and encourage positive feedback.
-
1
References
- Photo Credit student image by Yuriy Poznukhov from Fotolia.com
