What are problem-solving skills in children?
Creative thinking is the heart of problem solving. It is the ability to see a different way to do something, generate new ideas, and use materials in new ways. Central to creative thinking is the willingness to take risks, to experiment, and even to make a mistake.
One reason that problem solving is important in child development is that it teaches discernment, helping young people distinguish what is a solvable problem. Problem solving also develops grit, a trait that successful students routinely display. Often, it takes an entire team to solve a problem.
The four steps are as follows:
- Analyze—Understand the root cause.
- Plan—Determine how to resolve the problem.
- Implement—Put the resolution in place.
- Evaluate—Determine if the resolution is producing the desired results.
Why do children need to problem solve?
It’s an important life skill that they need to develop so that they can make decisions for themselves. Solving problems will help them to be more confident and independent, and stop them from feeling frustrated.
