Maximize Your Kid’s Creative Problem-Solving Skill For Future Success 🧩

“The only way to discover the limits of the possible is to go beyond them into the impossible.” — said English Fiction writer and television series host, Arthur C. Clarke.

One can only achieve this with a visionary mind and this kind of mind uses creativity to solve problems. In simple words, Creative problem-solving denotes, finding novel and innovative solutions to an obstacle. It involves breaking down an issue into smaller parts, looking at it from different perspectives, and using logical thinking to develop unique solutions.

Parents should help their children grow strong problem-solving skills as this assists kids to approach challenges in new ways. Further, it encourages out-of-the-box thought processes so that your little one can come up with answers that may not be immediately obvious. To understand the state of creativity in learning in today’s American schools, Gallup — Apple funded organization conducted a survey.

Researchers of this organization visited 12 different schools and collected data from 2,673 parents, 1,036 full-time teachers, and 853 students. 87% of teachers and 77% of parents confirmed that creativity in learning resulted in a positive cognitive mindset. 74% of teachers use technology to train their students to think critically.

Reasons why children need to develop their creative problem-solving abilities?

Kids go through many issues in their daily life. It ranges from academic to family problems. After the pandemic, the situation has gone worse.

Many educators and guardians are now concerned about the ongoing depression and anxiety in kids. Studies have shown Creative Problem-Solving skills or CPS can improve the mental state of kids. Not only that, but it also helps the kid to become a successful adult.

The reasons you should focus on developing problem-solving skills in kids are as follows.

1. Boosts critical thinking: Children’s thinking abilities are tested since creative problem-solving calls for them to think critically and analytically.

2. Enhanced adaptability: Kids can become more flexible and adaptive by learning to come up with original solutions to issues.

3. Increased confidence: As children become more skilled at solving critical issues, they become more confident in their ability to overcome challenges and achieve their goals.

4. Better communication skills: Creative problem-solving often involves working with others to find solutions, which helps kids develop strong communication and collaboration skills.

5. Greater success in school and career: Employers highly value problem-solving skills which are also essential for many academic subjects. By developing these skills early on, children can set themselves up for success in their future endeavors.

For 10 years, Kate Mills has consistently taught science at Knollwood School in New Jersey. Kate mentioned that she chose her activities and languages to foster a problem-solving mindset in her students from the very beginning.

She followed the metacognition technique, where normalizing the struggle was the key point. She supported the kids in the problem-solving process instead of giving them direct answers. For instance, she once presented a math issue to her class that would leave many of them perplexed.

She instructed them to help themselves by using a conscious approach when they requested her assistance. The kids cautiously took the initial step, and after repeatedly failing, they managed to resolve the issue. You can also use a few techniques at home to help your child develop CPS abilities.

Easy and Smart Strategies to enhance Problem-Solving skills in kids

Teaching problem-solving skills to kids can be an enriching experience for both the parent and the child. Here are some tips for building problem-solving skills in children:

1. Encourage kids to think independently: Instead of giving the youngsters the answers, encourage them to think critically and come up with their solutions. Ask them to define the issue first. then teach them to consider alternatives. After weighing the pros and cons of each option, help your child choose one. Let the child use it at the end and evaluate the outcomes.

2. Ask them to note down what doesn’t work: Eliminating the non-working elements is essential to finding a solution. Tell them to make a file called not-the-correct-answer where they can save all of their unsuccessful attempts. Children can learn what works better through this, and you can gain insight into how they think.

3. Practice problem-solving with your little one: Practice problem-solving together by working on puzzles, brainteasers, and other activities that require critical thinking.

4. Offer support and guidance: Overall, the key is to offer support and guidance while still encouraging kids to think for themselves and come up with their solutions. This can help them build confidence and develop important problem-solving skills.

5. Ask open-ended questions: Asking open-ended questions can help kids think more deeply about a problem and come up with their solutions. For example, instead of asking “What’s the answer?”, try asking “How do you think you could solve this problem?

Our company, TomoClub, uses games to teach kids the same skill. That makes it more entertaining and captivating. If you are interested to know more about us, book a demo session.