Whether your child can\'t find his math homework or he\'s forgotten his lunch, good problem-solving skills are the key to helping him manage his life.
A 2010 study published in Behaviour Research and Therapy found that kids who lack problem-solving skills may be at a higher risk of depression and suicidality. Additionally, the researchers found that teaching a child\'s problem-solving skills can improve mental health. You can begin teaching basic problem-solving skills during preschool and help your child sharpen his skills into high school and beyond. Reasons Kids Need Problem-Solving Kids Kids face a variety of problems every day, ranging from academic difficulties to problems on the sports field. Yet, few of them have a formula for solving those problems. Kids who lack problem-solving skills may avoid taking action when faced with a problem. Rather than put their energy into solving the problem, they may invest their time in avoiding the issue. That\'s why many kids fall behind in school or struggle to maintain friendships. Other kids who lack problem-solving skills spring into action without recognizing their choices. A child may hit a peer who cuts in front of him in line because he\'s not sure what else to do. Or, he may walk out of class when he\'s being teased because he can\'t think of any other ways to make it stop. Those impulsive choices may create even bigger problems in the long run.