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Problem
Solving Skills
Problem solving is a natural part of everyday life. Most of
the situations we are so familiar with that we don't even consider
them to be problems. For example every day complex problems
like driving a car, shopping, preparing children for school,
etc. are faced easily on a daily basis. The methods we used
when we first solved these common everyday problems can be applied
to more complex problems. Solutions can be found to most problems
if it is analysed, and solved logically. You may also need to
be a little creative to look beyond the obvious logical alternatives
that first come to mind.
Children too can learn to think for themselves and find solutions
to the problems they face. You can teach your children how to
solve problems and resolve conflicts that come up daily with
friends, teachers, and family; to explore alternative solutions
and their consequences; and to consider the feelings of others.
You can also help shy children to become more assertive and
impulsive children to cope with frustration when things don't
go their way. To prepare children to become productive adults
parents must help them develop problem-solving skills that are
necessary for life long success. Children who have the ability
to master academic material may end up failing in life because
they lack the problem-solving skills necessary to successfully
adjust. In order to achieve success it is critical to teach
children these skills early in life.
Importance
of Problem-Solving Skills
The development of problem-solving skills is a step-by-step
process. As children grow and develop, their ability to solve
problems will also develop. For instance, a very young child
may only be able to solve a very simple problem e.g., to work
a simple two or three-piece puzzle. An older child may be capable
of solving a much more complex problem e.g., sorting pictures
of healthy and not healthy foods. By helping young children
discover that they can figure things out, you encourage a strong
belief in their own abilities. In addition, well-developed problem-solving
skills are important for future learning in math, science, and
social studies. By encouraging children to solve their own problems
at a young age, you are promoting the development of problem-solving
skills. These skills need to be introduced and reinforced through
a wide variety of hands-on, developmentally appropriate activities.
Problem solving Strategies
1. Get a Good Start by Understanding
the Problem
Children should get started by using all available information
to form a clear, complete mental picture of the problem situation.
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Words- Children should read the problem
statement carefully, to get accurate comprehension. Study
the word meaning and sentence structure, to gather all
the important facts. |
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Pictures- When the problem information
is visually organized on paper, it is easier for the children
to understand when they study a diagram or make their
own picture. This also decreases their memory load, leaving
their mind free to do creative thinking. |
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Free Information- The problem may
require children to assume certain reasonable things about
the problem situation, or to use data that is not given
in the problem. |
2. Pattern Recognition
Guide your children to form a clear mental image of
the problem situation, then search their memory for a match.
Most problems are variations of previous problems, not duplicates,
so it is rare to find a "whole problem" match. Instead,
guide them to look for matches at the level of principles, equations
and sub-problems. Then ask them to use these individual tools,
modified in whatever way is needed to solve the present problem.
Pattern-recognizing skill will improve as they do more problems
and as they learn to focus their attention on the relevant aspects
of a problem situation.
3.
Puzzles
Puzzles are great tools for developing problem-solving
skills. In order to work a puzzle, the child must match the
empty space or shape with the corresponding puzzle piece. Younger
children need to start with very simple puzzles. Older children
can work with complex puzzles.
4.
Sorting Activities
Sorting materials based on colour, size or type promotes the
development of problem solving skills. For example, children
can be asked to sort picture cards of foods, animals or types
of transportation in a variety of ways.
5.
Science Experiments
Science experiments are a great way to encourage problem-solving
skills. The following is a simple experiment you can try with
the children. Ahead of time, place an assortment of blocks in
a large box. Have the children help you figure out how you can
move the box to another area of the classroom. Encourage them
to try different ways of moving the box (e.g., pushing, pulling,
placing in a wagon, dividing the blocks into smaller containers,
etc.).
6. Some exercises
to develop Problem Solving Skills
i. Straw Bridge
Problem: Make a structure,
using only the materials below, to span a 12" space, and
hold as much weight as possible.
Criteria:
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To test their structure,
they can either hang the can from the structure or place
it on the structure |
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They will receive 10
points if their structure holds the can and 10 points
for each rubber ball placed in the can |
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They will have a maximum
of one minute to test their structure. |
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The structure must hold
the weight for three seconds. |
Materials:
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10" masking tape |
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fifteen drinking straws (no
more than 15 straws can be used) |
Test Materials:
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One can with wires attached (it can
sit on top or hang from bottom) |
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Nine rubber balls |
ii.
Light A Match Under Water
Background: You are
working for an underwater research company. Your company has
built a habitat on the ocean floor for a team of researchers
to live in. As a safety measure, the company has decided that
there needs to be a method of providing light from the outside
of the habitat in case of a power failure. As the chief engineer,
you have been given the task of designing a method of lighting
a match inside the habitat, which would then light a candle.
Problem: Come up with
a way to light a match under water. There will be a container
(aquarium filled with water to place the device and light the
match. Children will have one week to complete this assignment.
Criteria:
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There must be water surrounding
the device that the match is in. |
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The water does not have to touch
the match |
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Children may use any materials that
they wish. |
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Children cannot touch the device
after they have placed it in the water other than to stabilize
the device. |
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Children must operate the device
from outside the water. |
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The match must burn for at least
five seconds. |
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All devices will be tested on the
same day |
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The match must be lit while under
water |
Ask children to sketch what their device will look like and
label all parts.
iii. Amusement
Park Ride
Background: You have
just been appointed the new supervisor of Magic Mountain. There
hasn't been a new amusement ride for a year. Most of the children
are bored with the old rides and want something new to entertain
themselves.
| Problem:
You are to design an amusement park ride for Magic Mountain.
It should be for children of your age. You must build
a model of the ride. |
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Criteria:
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You must label your ride with its
name, size, and age requirements |
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It may not exceed a 12" X 12"
X 20 inch space |
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You must present the ride to the
class and explain all details of its workings. |
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You may use any materials you would
like to build the ride. |
Suggested tips for parents to
promote problem-solving skills:
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. Notice what children do when they are confronted with
a problem to be solved. Encourage them to become conscious
of their own actions to avoid, deflect, deny, or become
overwhelmed by problems |
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Insist children to pay attention to what is going on
around them; solutions can come from a variety of sources.
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Encourage children to practice developing skills of
observation by paying attention to details, people, behaviour,
and changes in their environment. |
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Guide them to break down problems into manageable parts. |
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Make them understand that they have to live with a problem,
so let them make it part of their life and think about
it frequently. The more they understand the essence of
a problem, the more likely they will identify a solution. |
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Encourage them to focus on the process of analyzing
an idea. |
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Guide them to identify and use several resources for
researching information. |
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Focus their attention to look at and examine data that
they collect from all sides. Share the results with others
for feasibility and additional ideas |
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Let children distinguish between facts and beliefs
- assess the credibility of the information against their
own reasoning as well as others |
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Let them identify the pros and cons of an idea, evaluate
the strengths and weaknesses of a hypothesis. |
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After ranking their pros and cons, guide them to select
an alternative that fits their level of risk and comfort. |
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Ask them to reframe a problem in a number of ways. |
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Let them turn a problem upside down by picking a solution
first and working backwards. |
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Ask them to create causal flow diagrams representing
the cause-and-effect relationships among major factors
in a particular problem. |
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Let them ask themselves "what if" questions
and use the answers as stepping stones |
Children's problem solving is more effective -- and more fun
-- when they have a positive attitude. Encourage them to attack
each problem with enthusiasm and the confidence that they will
be able to find an answer quickly.
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