Following up on the problem solving activities for preschoolers that I posted last week, I’ve been thinking about how we can use problem solving when it comes to their own lives and discipline.

Kids love it when they’re given a chance to participate in discussions that are centered on them.  If you’ve been having a persistent problem with your preschooler- dawdling over her food, whining every morning before she has to get ready - see if you can involve her in the problem solving process, so both of you can come to an understanding.

Sit her down, and say, “What do you think we can do, so you’re not always late getting ready every morning.  Tell me. I want to know.” You might be surprised at the answers she comes up with.  In this case, there are plenty of ways you can solve the tardiness problem.

• She could choose her clothes the night before, and lay them out, so she saves time in the morning.
• She can go to bed a half hour earlier, so she feels fresh when she wakes up.
• She can go to bed with her clothes on (non wrinkly, of course) so she’s through with the getting dressed bit when she wakes up.
• She can set her dressing up and getting ready routine to a timer that she has to beat.
• She could also go to school in her night clothes to save time (but then, others would laugh at her - brainstorm all possible solutions, and all the consequences of the solution).

Maybe, you could try this with other problem areas - meal time fussiness, boredom in the car etc.   You might find that involving her gives her more control over her life, and therefore she might be more likely to stick with the solution you agree on.

I am not a big fan of pussy footing around your kids, and at some point, you’ll have to come up with more effective discipline measures than merely gritting your teeth, and suffering silently through it.   Personally, this method seems to work better for me as opposed to ” Eat up your dinner, or else…!” Punishment and nagging seem to have temporary results, if ever.

What do you think?  Do you try this with your own kids?

Challenge your preschooler’s mind with these problem solving activities. Placing a new challenge or problem before your preschooler helps her brainstorm new ways to solve it. These are necessary life skills your child has to learn, not only in the classroom environment, but also as an adult.

Try these simple activities:

• Push her toy under the couch, and ask her to retrieve it. Watch what she does. If she needs help, give her a rod or stick to try pushing the car towards her.
• Ask her to fetch you something that’s on a higher shelf she can’t reach. Observe how she solves the problem. Make suggestions if necessary – she can drag a chair or stool over…
• Mix a cup each of beans, salt and rice in a large bowl, and give your child three smaller bowls, a strainer and a colander. Ask her to separate the beans, rice and salt. talk about the different ways you could do this.
• Spill some water on the ground (you could do this when she actually does spill something on the floor!) and give her a variety of materials to wipe the mess with – paper napkins, a wash cloth, sponge, a synthetic piece of fabric etc. Discuss what material is best for mopping up the water.
• Draw two parallel lines in the yard with a piece of chalk, about four feet apart. Place a piece of crumpled paper just inside one line. Ask her to get the paper to the other line without touching it. Brainstorm different ways she can so this – the obvious one would be to blow on it. See if there are other ways to move the paper forward – fan it with a plastic plate or magazine, perhaps.

Memorizing things alone won’t prepare your child for serious learning. The brain is exercised when you throw these little challenges at it.

Have fun!