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TODAY’S CHILD

TEACH YOUR CHILD TO PROBLEM-SOLVE

By Nicoleen Davies, Director of Business Development, Life Talk

very day, we all have some problem, people don’t look to others to help them discover that in most instances, the issue
conflict or issue that needs to be solve or fix an issue, but are able to do so is far smaller than they thought it was –
Esolved. For our children, it is no themselves. and much easier to resolve.
different.
Problem-solving builds skills • Confidence: Once your child realises
They may not know where to find their Did you know that problem-solving skills that they are in control and are capable
toy or what they want to wear, or they result in an array of other different skills of resolving something, they’ll start to
may be in a conflict situation with a sibling being developed? Some of these skills are gain confidence. This will allow them
over sharing a toy. To them, these are real listed below, along with tips on how you to become more independent and less
issues. By teaching your child how to solve can hone each skill: reliant on you to help them work things
problems from a young age, you set them out.
up to develop valuable habits that will carry • Logic: In talking through a problem, your
them through life. child will learn to break down a situation • Resilience and coping skills: As stated
into smaller parts or facts. This helps in above, conflict and challenges are part
In the same way that you teach your child a conflict situation, for example, where of life. This category of skills will equip
to speak or ride a bike, it’s essential that they learn to separate the facts from your child to tackle problems head-on,
you teach them the life skill of problem- the story so that only the facts are dealt instead of shying away from them and
solving. This skill can be applied to issues with. If it is a multifaceted problem, this letting a molehill grow into a mountain.
big or small. It’s likely that your child will process breaks it up into smaller pieces They will learn that there is a solution to
immediately turn to you to help them that fit together so that they can think every problem and everything turns out
resolve an issue. Compare this to the about each piece and then what they okay; maybe not exactly as they hoped,
workplace and the fact that so many would like to do to address it. They will but life goes on nonetheless.

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