As a parent, you no doubt want your child to be able to solve problems. In life, at school, in friendships. The good news is, there are ways to help your child become better problem solvers. Read on for ways in which you can support your child on their journey.

Jigsaws

Jigsaws were a long standing favourite in our home growing up. They’re inexpensive, engaging and provide children with a sense of accomplishment.

Added bonus? They are super for improving your spatial reasoning, which for those of you who are on the 11+ journey, will know all about! Jigsaws can be an excellent way to simulate a calming and meditative space for your child, whilst also providing the opportunity to connect with siblings, parents and grandparents.

Origami

Origami is the ancient art of paper folding. It is proven to improve children’s hand-eye coordination, as well as their concentration and fine motor skills. As origami increases in difficulty, the creations increase in complexity and beauty, allowing children to see progression in their results. Again, this is an excellent way to get in some extra non-verbal reasoning revision without your child even realising it!

Tetris

I know, I know! Your children need very little encouragement to spend more time using a screen! But, bear with me on this one. Tetris is a classic video game, loved in the 80’s and 90’s by many children across the world, including myself! Children have to think quickly in order to place the blocks in a space, without leaving any blanks. The better you get, the quicker the pieces fall and the faster your child needs to react!

Scrabble

What’s not to love about Scrabble?! A highly competitive word game that can be enjoyed by all the family. It improves a child’s spelling, vocabulary, reasoning skills and more. With junior and now even “my first scrabble” versions available, it can be enjoyed as soon as your child starts their phonics journey.

Team sports

We are big believers in the power of team sports. Sports teach skills such as team work, problem solving and communication. Not to mention the health benefits and stress relief that come with exercise. Many athletes excel academically due to their increased self esteem, motivation and desire to do well. They also tend to be

accustomed to the odd knock back here and there, which can teach a child to take losses and failures in their stride, a skill many adults still struggle with! Netball, cricket, football and rugby are great places to start, to name just a few!

Being well rounded is of huge importance to many parents. Coupling academic learning with problem solving and sport can do wonders for the mental health and well being of our children. Give some of our suggestions a go and let us know how you get on!