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Engaging in Problem-Solving Activities for Preschoolers

Engaging in Problem-Solving Activities for Preschoolers, Lighthouse School, Willis TX

Developing problem-solving skills is an essential part of early childhood. Problem-solving games and activities help encourage children to solve problems with sometimes creative solutions. Problem-solving activities for kids teach children to define the problem and tackle the solution.

Right now, activities to instill problem-solving abilities—even those that seem simple to us—can enhance their cognition, resilience, and creativity. The best part? These activities are fun! Here are seven easy problem-solving activities for toddlers and preschoolers that you can start trying today!

Memory Games

Memory card games with matching pictures are excellent for enhancing your toddler’s concentration, memory, and problem-solving skills! Since many card sets might have too many pairs for a toddler to manage alone, start with just three to four pairs and see if they can match them. As they get better, gradually increase the number of pairs until they’re using the entire deck. If you don’t have a deck, you can easily create your own using online printables or your drawings.

Shape Sorting

Shape sorting is a classic problem-solving toys for young toddlers. Besides matching shapes to the correct holes, toddlers must also figure out why certain shapes don’t fit, requiring them to rotate the pieces or adjust their grip. This helps children to learn to evaluate size, shape, and color, allowing them to practice spatial awareness. 

Sorting/Grouping by Category

Sorting activities are fantastic for toddlers’ problem-solving and cognitive development, so don’t stop with shape sorters! Create simple tasks that let them sort by different categories. For example, have them unload the dishwasher silverware tray into the silverware organizer or ask them to collect all the yellow items in a room.

Puzzles

Another problem-solving strategy is puzzles! Puzzles are an excellent way to keep problem-solving challenges fresh for your toddler. A familiar puzzle can become a fun, “new” challenge if they haven’t seen it in a few weeks. 

This approach not only prevents boredom but also reinforces their learning as they encounter the same problem with a fresh perspective. Additionally, reintroducing puzzles at different intervals helps to strengthen their memory and cognitive abilities as they recall previous strategies and apply them to solve the puzzle again.

Hide the Teddy Bear or Toy

One cognitive milestone for two-year-olds is the ability to find an object hidden under two or more layers. Once they’ve mastered this, they’re ready for more advanced hiding games. Try hiding a teddy bear or another toy when they aren’t looking, then give them clues to find it. Start with simple directions and gradually progress to tougher clues or play games of “warmer/colder” to make the search more challenging and engaging.

Helping Others

Toddlers love to help, and assisting Mommy or Daddy with a problem can be much less frustrating than solving their own. For instance, if your little one is determined to put on their own socks but often gets frustrated, try mimicking the same problem yourself and ask for their help. Coach them through the process (“Now we need to stretch out the opening of the sock!”). 

Because their emotions aren’t already running high, they’ll be more likely to absorb your tips. This way, you can model how to stay calm during frustrating situations and help them build confidence in their ability to tackle the same problem later.

Constructive Play Toys

The ability to build a block tower of four or more blocks is a cognitive milestone for two-year-olds. For three-year-olds, building a tower of six or more blocks is the expected milestone. This is because constructing anything, even a simple block tower, is a genuine problem-solving challenge for toddlers. 

Blocks, train sets, and other building toys allow your child to work out how to balance, fit pieces together, and manage frustration as they learn to master the challenge. These activities not only enhance their cognitive skills but also boost their fine motor skills and perseverance.

Lighthouse School’s Problem-Solving Activities

At Lighthouse School, we believe in introducing engaging and educational activities to our toddlers. We desire to help them grow and develop cognitively, socially, and physically. If you are interested in learning more about our activities or principles at Lighthouse School, we would love to connect with you!

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