Imagine you are at the park with your preschooler. They want to play on the swing, but it is occupied by another child. Or you are at home, watching them build a tower of blocks and it keeps falling down. How would you react in these situations? Would you intervene and solve the problem for your child, or would you guide them and help them find their own solution?

As a famous saying goes, “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.”

Similarly, as parents and educators, we need to equip our children with the right skills to help them walk through this giant obstacle course called life. We need to teach them how to think critically and overcome hurdles with creative solutions. Research indicates that children who have these skills fare better in life than those who don’t.

• They know how to regulate their emotions, like frustration, anger and sadness
• They’ve better social skills and empathy since problem-solving often requires  negotiation and compromise
• They grow independent and confident as they learn to solve their problems

Now let’s explore some ways in which you can enhance your preschooler’s ability to solve problems:

Encourage Exploration:

Foster your child’s creativity and critical thinking by giving them various opportunities to interact with their surroundings. 

• Offer them a variety of materials and open-ended objects such as building blocks, art supplies and natural objects like pebbles and leaves. These will arouse their curiosity and encourage them to think creatively as they discover different ways to use them.
• Provide them with a rich environment. Go to the park, walk around the neighborhood, visit friends and relatives, encourage pretend play etc. All these experiences will lead your children to observe, ask questions and learn.
• Children are naturally curious and keep asking questions. Don’t frown upon their constant ‘whys’ and ‘hows’ and encourage them to find their own answers.

Be Patient:

We all know that urge we have when children get stuck and we want to help them immediately. Pause. Be patient and give them a chance to figure it out on their own. Intervene when it’s necessary but not too soon. 

Model Problem-Solving Behavior

If ‘ufff Allah’ is the first word you utter when faced with a problem, chances are your children will adopt the same attitude. Treat problems as challenges to conquer and your children will learn the same.

Moreover, as you think your way through a difficult situation, give voice to your thoughts. Children will be able to observe how you overcome problems in this way. 

You can also demonstrate how to solve problems using the five-step formula:

1. Identify the problem. Simply acknowledge their emotions and state what the problem is. It may sound something simple but it can make a real difference when kids are stuck. For eg. ‘You want to have the toy your sibling is playing with’, or ‘you’re frustrated because your tower keeps falling’.’
2. Brainstorm possible solutions. Together, think of five possible solutions for the problem. Encourage your children to think creatively. The solutions don’t have to be perfect. They may even be absurd or impossible at this point. You just want them to think.
3. Think of the pros and cons of every solution they’ve come up with.
4. Act on the plan. Let them choose one of the solutions based on what you’ve discussed about the pros and cons.
5. Test out the solution they have chosen. If it doesn’t work they can pick another possible solution from the list.

Play Problem-Solving Games

Games aren’t just fun, they also teach crucial cognitive and motor skills. For example, a game of hide and seek develops spatial awareness, reasoning and planning skills in children. Similarly, a simple shape sorter toy encourages them to analyze and think critically. 

Encourage children to play with their siblings and friends, and with simple toys that develop problem-solving. Stacking, sorting, puzzles, board games and mazes are all great ways to stimulate their creativity and logic. These games also help them to learn how to cooperate, communicate and cope with challenges.

Ask Children For Advice

It is an Islamic practice to consult others before making important decisions, whether it is on a large scale, such as government, or a smaller scale such as family matters. In households where children are included in these consultations we see those children develop strong personalities and higher thinking skills. This is because those children feel valued. The decision rests with the head of the family, but consultation brings together ideas from everyone including children who often surprise with remarkable answers.

Stories

Stories are a source of inspiration and a remarkable tool to model a growth mindset and positive behavior. Relate stories of Muslim heroes of the past and how they overcame problems. For example, teach them stories of Musa (as) and how the sea parted into two, the story of Muhammad (sa) and the hardships he and his friends faced. These stories from the Quran and Islamic history will provide the spiritual support they need throughout life.

Moreover, there are many children’s stories of contemporary characters that model these skills, and may also be told. For example, there’s a show called Robotik for preschoolers that teaches them analytical skills in the guise of fun. The show has 2-3 minute episodes featuring a young girl robot named Beka and her dog-bot Bubo. They come up with inventive solutions for their friends’ problems. 

The reindeer can’t get through narrow spaces because of its long antlers? The gray bus won’t ride on the colorful fun bus? Or the tinybot can’t turn off the light at naptime? No problem! Beka and Bubo have simple yet creative solutions for everyone.

Robotiks is now available to watch on Muslim Kids TV. Head over to www.muslimkids.tv to access the fun!

(Please be advised that this is a licensed show and contains music)