As parents and/or youth caregivers it’s a natural instinct to “save” our youngsters when we see them struggling. Our intention is to protect them from the frustration of grappling with challenging situations. Though we are operating from a place of compassion, we may actually be preventing our youngsters from developing the critical skills needed to become confident problem solvers. According to experts, problem solving is one of the most important skills youth can develop because it prepares them to cope with increasingly complex academic and interpersonal issues as they mature. The next time you head for your “super cape” ask yourself, how can I support my youngster’s problem solving skills without flying in to save them?
Resources
Why is Problem Solving Important in Child Development?https://www.marlborough.org/news/~board/health-and-wellness/post/why-is-problem-solving-important-in-child-development
7 Reasons Why it’s Important to Let Your Kids Struggle https://biglifejournal.com/blogs/blog/struggle-is-important
The importance of letting kids solve their own problems https://ktar.com/story/280279/the-importance-of-letting-kids-solve-their-own-problems/