Three Ways to Train your Child to Solve Problems

As executive director of a Math coaching center, I’m a chief problem-solver. Since Math is my passion, I can add fractions, multiply decimals, find X’s and dissect brain teasers – all without lifting a pencil.

Managing my small business consists of solving problems: How do we provide better service? Who’s the best applicant to hire? What should we include in the next workshop? When I get a call from the office about an issue, I like that my daughters hear me calmly discussing ways to fix it.

I want my girls to know that, as with Math problems, there’s always a solution in everyday life. By exposing them to the right way of facing challenges, I am showing them how to be experts at solving problems.

Teaching your kids these skills in non-threatening situations will help keep them from panicking when they face more dire problems in the future. Below are three tips to help make your child into a great problem solver:

Let them solve problems. Sounds simple. But our natural instinct is to shield our children from harm and difficulty. The more you allow them to take the lead in solving a problem, the easier it will become for them. Lost homework. Missing the bus. A scheduling conflict between a little league game and a birthday party. What are some of their ideas for making it right?

Teach them to save, or at least curb, the drama. I’m not a yeller or screamer when things go south. Kids learn more from what you do than from what you say. They’ll take note if you have a chill attitude toward non-urgent problems – like an army of ants marching across the counter or a downpour on the day of a backyard barbecue.

A friend told her son that he could be upset for 10 minutes after losing his allowance. Expressing negative emotion is important to mental health. But then, he had to figure out what to do next.

Train them to brainstorm. I love the concept of brainstorming – coming up with a list of possible solutions. For example, if your daughter doesn’t get invited to a slumber party, first acknowledge her disappointment. But only for a limited time (see tip #2).

Then ask her what she can do about it. She might say, “I can stay home and cry” or “I can be mean to Jane (the party hostess) at school.” Or, you might chip in, “You can ask her why you didn’t get invited,” or “You can suggest that your parents take you out for a special dinner the night of the party.” Or bribe Jane. Or make yourself invisible and crash the party. The trick is to get her to think (outside the box, to use a cliché).

As much as you want your kids to depend on you, it’s important to prepare them for the day when they won’t. Give them opportunities to figure stuff out on their own, and you’ll sharpen their problem-solving skills for the future.

And remember, Miracle Math Coaching is the best at teaching your child how to solve Math problems. If you’re interested in more or just want to take advantage of our FREE learning Discovery Evaluation: Click here to sign up now. As a mother of three girls and a person whose career depends upon great Math skills, I know the importance of cultivating a love for Math in kids. That’s why our evaluation is free. It can allow both you and us at Miracle Math to see how best to help your child. All the best!