6 Games That Teach Problem Solving Skills
By teaching skills through fun games and activities, pre-k children can experience a smoother transition into kindergarten. Try these six games at home or during your next play date.
As preschool aged children develop mentally, it's often not enough to simply talk them through problem solving. By teaching cognitive skills through fun games and activities, pre-k children can experience a smoother transition into kindergarten and adapt much more quickly to requests from teachers and parents. Try these six games at home or during your next play date.
1. Puzzles
Buy an over-sized puzzle with only a small number of pieces to teach kids how to use visual cues to solve a problem. You'll see the 'light bulb' come on above their heads as they learn through trial and error and get quicker over time. Save money by making your own puzzle with construction paper and scissors. Involve them in the process of cutting and piecing it back together.
Buy an over-sized puzzle with only a small number of pieces to teach kids how to use visual cues to solve a problem. You'll see the 'light bulb' come on above their heads as they learn through trial and error and get quicker over time. Save money by making your own puzzle with construction paper and scissors. Involve them in the process of cutting and piecing it back together.
2. The Lava Game
Encourage pre-k children to use their imaginations by building a pathway around the room. Ask them to pretend the floor is lava meaning they must keep off! Get their brains working with a few ideas like bean bags for safe zones and chairs as bridges. Encourage them to use other items around the house or classroom as they see fit. While this game will certainly call for careful supervision, it's a great way to teach through interaction.
Encourage pre-k children to use their imaginations by building a pathway around the room. Ask them to pretend the floor is lava meaning they must keep off! Get their brains working with a few ideas like bean bags for safe zones and chairs as bridges. Encourage them to use other items around the house or classroom as they see fit. While this game will certainly call for careful supervision, it's a great way to teach through interaction.
3. Engineer for a Day
For the ultimate hands-on approach to learning, try leading an activity that requires your child to build. Construct paper airplanes together and fly them around the room before noting results. Ask for their input on design (it doesn't have to be complicated) and whether or not extra materials will help. Experiment with different launch points and speeds.
For the ultimate hands-on approach to learning, try leading an activity that requires your child to build. Construct paper airplanes together and fly them around the room before noting results. Ask for their input on design (it doesn't have to be complicated) and whether or not extra materials will help. Experiment with different launch points and speeds.
4. Fun with Pipe Cleaners
Similarly, help your pre-k child construct a building out of pipe cleaners. While this game may be too advanced depending on their attention span, it can be modified with help from an adult. First, design the structure using markers and paper. Can the child visualize the building? Next, start building using pipe cleaners and any other materials you might have on hand for support. Test its durability and rebuild using a new design if needed. Ask the children how tall they think they can make the structure and challenge them to compete with each other.
Similarly, help your pre-k child construct a building out of pipe cleaners. While this game may be too advanced depending on their attention span, it can be modified with help from an adult. First, design the structure using markers and paper. Can the child visualize the building? Next, start building using pipe cleaners and any other materials you might have on hand for support. Test its durability and rebuild using a new design if needed. Ask the children how tall they think they can make the structure and challenge them to compete with each other.
5. In-home Treasure Hunt
Treasure hunts promote healthy curiosity and abundant creativity with a determination to problem solve. Create 5-10 clues to place around the designated area with each one leading to the next. It can be a simple riddle or rhyme with small treats or prizes at each hidden location. The more children, the better, as they can work together to learn communication skills.
Treasure hunts promote healthy curiosity and abundant creativity with a determination to problem solve. Create 5-10 clues to place around the designated area with each one leading to the next. It can be a simple riddle or rhyme with small treats or prizes at each hidden location. The more children, the better, as they can work together to learn communication skills.
6. Race Course
Just as they did with pipe cleaners, pre-k kids can engage in a similar brain activity involving balls and makeshift ramps. Set two lines of tape down on the floor and ask the child how to get the ball from the starting line to the finish. Demonstrate the concept with wooden blocks as ramps. How far will it go? Can they make it go farther? Faster?
Just as they did with pipe cleaners, pre-k kids can engage in a similar brain activity involving balls and makeshift ramps. Set two lines of tape down on the floor and ask the child how to get the ball from the starting line to the finish. Demonstrate the concept with wooden blocks as ramps. How far will it go? Can they make it go farther? Faster?
Teaching children problem solving skills often involves more show than tell. Not only will these activities encourage them to use their words and think through a problem every step of the way, it will build confidence needed for future lessons.
All Saints' Episcopal Day School is located in Phoenix, Arizona. To learn more about our preschool or any of our grades or programs, get in touch with us today.
All Saints' Episcopal Day School is located in Phoenix, Arizona. To learn more about our preschool or any of our grades or programs, get in touch with us today.