PediatricDigest: How to Help Build Problem Solving Skills in Kids

The Occupational Therapy team has some helpful tips and tricks to assist in building problem solving skills with your kids.

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How to Help Build Problem Solving Skills in Kids

As parents and caregivers, we want our children to grow into independent thinkers who can make smart decisions and navigate life's challenges with confidence. One of the most important skills to support in this journey is problem-solving. This complex process helps children and teens develop critical thinking, flexibility, emotional regulation, self-confidence, and independence in home, school and work-related tasks. Whether it's figuring out how to organize a messy backpack, navigate social challenges, or manage time for a project, children and teens benefit tremendously from learning how to solve problems independently. As occupational therapists, we often see how challenges in problem-solving can affect a child's success both at home and at school. The good news? With guidance and practice, our kids can strengthen this skill just like any other.

Here's how you, as a parent or caregiver, can help build these essential skills at home.

What Is Problem Solving?

Problem solving involves identifying a challenge, figuring out possible solutions, and choosing one to try. It requires cognitive, emotional, and sometimes physical effort, depending on the problem. Children and teens with executive functioning challenges, ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), or sensory processing difficulties may struggle with this skill and benefit from guided support.

Tips for Supporting Problem Solving at Home

Embrace the struggle

It's natural to want to jump in and fix things when your child is upset or frustrated. But when we solve every problem for them, we rob them of a valuable opportunity to think through challenges. Instead, ask guiding questions like:

Ask Guiding Questions Instead of Giving Answers

Instead of jumping in with solutions, ask questions like:

"What do you think we should try?"
"What's another way we can fix this?"
"What happened last time we had this problem?"

These open-ended prompts encourage your child to reflect, explore, and feel empowered to try ideas — even if they make mistakes. Remember, mistakes are part of learning

Use play scenarios to model problem-solving

Role-playing with dolls, action figures, or even stuffed animals is a great way to walk through social or practical challenges together.

Use Real-Life Situations as Practice

Everyday challenges can be great opportunities to build these skills. Let them figure out how to divide snacks among siblings, organize their backpack, or plan out what to wear for the weather. For teens, it could be budgeting allowance, managing homework deadlines, or planning transportation. These moments are meaningful chances to build independence and self-confidence.

Break It Down

Some kids often get overwhelmed by large tasks. Teach them how to break things down: "First, find your shoes. Then put them on. Then grab your backpack." This can go hand in hand with guided questions. For example, after finding their shoe, what should we do with the shoe? If an open-ended question multiple-choice guided questions might help make it easier with one of the choices being a silly choice to make it fun and engaging.

Praise effort, not just the result

Highlighting the process reinforces thinking skills: "I love how you thought about what to do when your toy wouldn't work." Acknowledge your child's effort, persistence, and creative thinking — even if the problem wasn't solved right away. Praising the process reinforces resilience and encourages them to keep trying in the future.

Use Visual Tools or Scripts When Needed

For children who benefit from more structure or support, visual problem-solving charts or "If/Then" scenarios can help guide them through decision-making. Social stories or scripts can also support kids and teens with cognitive or communication challenges. Pictures may also be useful to illustrate steps like: Stop → Think → Try → Ask for Help. Post it in your home to reference when challenges arise.

Encourage brainstorming multiple solutions

Ask open-ended questions like, "What are a few ways you could handle this?" For example, if your child is struggling to figure out how to ask a friend to play, you might ask, "What could you say to them?" or "What are three ways we could invite them to join the game?" to help them expand their thinking.

Let them experience natural consequences

Sometimes our failures are our best teachers, which means our kids may learn best from experiences. Small, manageable setbacks may help build responsibility and resilience without major long-term consequences.

Discuss hypothetical real-world scenarios

Use TV shows, Movies or things happening at school to ask: "

What would you do in that situation?"
"Do you agree with what they did? Why or why not?"
"What are some better ways they could've handled it?"
These conversations build critical thinking, perspective-taking, and empathy in a low-pressure way.

Why Problem Solving Matters

When kids struggle with problem-solving, it can show up in different ways:

Meltdowns over small changes
Difficulty making or keeping friends
Avoidance of new tasks
Struggles with independence at home or school
Impulsive decisions
Learned Helplessness

When to Seek Help

If your child has ongoing difficulty with decision-making, emotional regulation, transitions, or planning, and it's starting to impact daily life, reach out to an occupational therapist. At Cutting Edge Pediatric & Adult Therapy, we specialize in helping children and teens build executive functioning and life skills so they can succeed at home, in school, and in the community.

Want to know more? Ask your child's therapist about problem solving strategies at home to help our child become more independent in problem solving. Let's work together to raise confident, capable problem solvers.