Promoting Independence
When children encounter problems, stepping in to solve it for them can feel like the “right” thing to do. But when you intervene, children miss opportunities for skill building that come from solving problems their own way. The more practice they get, the better prepared they will be for the next problem!
Use problem solving to help your child flex their creative muscles when examining all of the different solutions to a problem.
- Watch as they make several attempts and approach challenges from new angles.
- Offer tons of praise and encouragement as your children independently strategize solutions to their problems.
Allow children to experience failure.
Yes, this can feel uncomfortable, but allowing children to experience the natural consequences of their decisions is extremely valuable. When kids are given the opportunity to struggle, and even fail, they start to develop critical social and emotional skills. You should never risk their safety or ignore children when they are in need, but be their sidekick rather than their hero.
Help your child develop a growth mindset.
Teaching a growth mindset to children means that we are encouraging them to continually develop, and to realize that they are capable of learning. When encountering your own problems, model a growth mindset by saying “this is really tricky, I better keep trying” instead of giving up. In order to solve a problem, your child must believe they have the ability to do so!
Practice problem solving before the stakes are high.
Ask children to help you come up with solutions to everyday issues like changing the toilet paper roll, getting stuck in their shirt while getting undressed, or having mismatched socks.