Helping Your Child Become A Better Problem Solver 

Learning to tackle life’s challenges is an essential skill, and helps children become independent, optimistic and resilient. You won’t always be there to keep everything running smoothly so it’s important children learn how to find sensible solutions to obstacles they face. Through this guide from a boarding school in London, we hope to give you the tools to make your children confident and capable problem solvers. 

Allow Them To Fail 

Failure is a catalyst for growth and improvement. Experiencing minor setbacks every once in a while encourages children to analyse where they went wrong and consider what they could do differently in the future. Practicing reflection techniques improves critical thinking and prompts children to explore different methods until they find a suitable solution. 

Give Them Options 

Allowing children to make certain choices teaches them to weigh up pros and cons before deciding on the best option. This can help them feel more confident in their decision making skills and will help them evaluate solutions when faced with an issue. 

Brainstorming 

Writing things down can help bring clarity to a situation. If your child is facing a problem, however large or small, encourage them to write everything down and then list possible solutions. They can then consider the benefits and drawbacks of each option before they commit to an action. This reflective problem-solving technique teaches children to evaluate issues in a practical way and helps them see past their initial emotional response to the situation. 

Offer Support 

No one likes to face problems alone, and although the ability to deal with things independently is sometimes necessary, having a sounding board to bounce ideas off can help children feel more secure in their decisions. Just be mindful to let your child lead as they work through the problem, whilst making sure they know you’re there to listen and support should they need you.