TAKE-HOME STRATEGY

Supporting Problem-Solving with Tasks at Home

Aerial view of child-sized shoes beside backpack

What It's About

Problem-Solving with Tasks involves the ability to think about a problem, come up with a solution, and try it out. Your child is using these skills as they figure out how to build a bridge with blocks, work on a puzzle, and even while deciding how to clean up their toys.

You can support your child as they work on these skills by encouraging them to persevere when they encounter a problem.

ACTIVITY CHOICE BOARD

Here are some ways you can support Problem-Solving with Tasks at home. Keep in mind that you can change these activities to work for you and your child based on their current abilities, interests, and what you have available at home. Make sure to use safe materials and watch your child closely during these activities.

Take a look, and try out your favorites!

Build It!

Come up with building challenges (like a bridge, a tall tower, a home for animals) for your child. They can use blocks, or even boxes to build. Offer help as needed, and test out their creation after!

Brainstorm Story Solutions

Use books or scenarios to point out problems and promote creative thinking. For example, “He decided to build his house of bricks. What else could he use if he didn’t have bricks?”

Make a Maze

Create a maze using different items from around your home. Encourage your child to try different paths and keep going when they get stuck. For more challenge, move parts around and see if they can do it again.

Loose Parts

Set out different materials like bottle lids, boxes, rocks, or scrap wood. Encourage your child to use these materials to create freely. Ask questions and make comments to help them work through problems.

Make a Puzzle

Have your child draw a picture on a piece of cardboard or thick paper, then cut it up into pieces to put back together. If it is too easy, try turning the puzzle upside down or sideways for them to solve.

Can You Solve It?

Set up different challenges for your child to solve. For example, modify a spoon to carry balled up socks across the room, or move across the room without touching the floor.

Quick Cues for Supporting Problem-Solving with Tasks

Some things you might do or say to help strengthen your child’s Problem-Solving with Tasks skills

Acknowledge Effort

Focus on the effort your child is showing instead of the results.

This can sound like:

“You are working so hard to fit the shape into the box!”

“Your tower fell again, but you’re trying another way to help it stay up. You’re working hard to solve the problem!”

“Wow! You are trying hard to figure out where to put that puzzle piece. I see you keep turning it and testing to see if it fits.”

Let Them Solve It

Provide support, or give hints to help your child, instead of solving it for them.

This can sound like:

“This round shape goes into the round hole. Now you try with the square shape!”

“Hmm, have you tried turning the puzzle piece a new way?”

“Show me what you have tried so far… Why do you think that one didn’t work? What else could you try?”  

Ask Open-Ended Questions

Ask your child questions that promote brainstorming and thinking.

This can sound like:

“What else could fit inside the box?”

“Why do you think your tower fell? What could you try differently this time?”

“Hmm… I wonder how we can get this out of here. What do you think we should do?”

Our Book Recommendations for Problem-Solving with Tasks

Engaging stories that support children's Problem-Solving with Tasks skills
Stop Bot Page

Stop Bot

Written and illustrated by James Yang, this story follows a community effort of thinking creatively to retrieve a lost toy.

Have fun with it:
Place a toy or object in a tricky location, and help your child get creative as you try to retrieve it!

Amy Wu and the Perfect Bao

Written by Kat Zhang and illustrated by Charlene Chua, this story features a girl’s persistence as she attempts to make her favorite food, Bao.

Have fun with it:
Pick a child-friendly recipe to make together and allow your child to work through each task as independently as possible.

More Take-Home Strategies

We’re creating a library of resources like these so families and other caregivers can quickly and easily promote children’s development at home. Be sure to see all the strategies we have available!

visit our take-home strategy library