Did you know that one of the best tools that you can give your toddler is the ability to solve problems for himself or herself? It can be frustrating to watch your little boy or girl struggle with something like getting his or her shirt on, or finding the right place for the puzzle piece to fit in. Many of us are quick to rush to the rescue, to help our little one “get it right” either to ease his frustration, or to get her out the door in time.
If we are able to step back a little bit and offer a little encouragement and guidance from the sidelines instead of swooping in with a ready – made solution to the issue of the moment, we may find ourselves surprised and amazed at what our toddlers can do. Dylan has surprised me a few times over the past couple of weeks by finding his own solutions to frustrating situations, yet I can not seem to summon a single example into my head right now.
Helping toddlers to develop a problem solving mindset does not mean that we leave them alone to sit with their problem until they figure it out. There are techniques that we can use to help ease their frustration enough without solving the problem for them. Once they get out of the upset of frustration, they can start to think things through in order to find a solution.
It can be difficult to know where to begin when all we see is our sweet little one experiencing the upset of frustration. We can begin guiding our toddler down the road towards solving their problem by letting them know that we understand that they are frustrated. We can ask questions about what we see. Of course, a few words of encouragement could also be helpful too. Over time, you will notice what kinds of words work well for your child and which do not. You will also notice a growing sense of pride in your toddler as he learns to do things, as Dylan would say “By my OWN self”.