Teaching Kids Problem Solving Skills At Home
As parents and educators, one of the greatest things we can do is provide our children with the skills to
solve problems by themselves. Kids of all ages face issues daily, and teaching them the process to solve
these problems will help them become confident, independent individuals.
If your child is struggling with a problem at home, you can do specific things to help.
Teach Your Child The Sequence To Solve a Problem
- Define the Problem: Defining the problem establishes a goal for what you want to achieve.
- Brainstorm Solutions: Create a list of possible solutions.
- Evaluate and Choose a Solution: The ideal solution will meet the goal, is efficient, and has the fewest
side effects. - Implement the Solution: This step is about testing and feedback rather than trying to get it ‘perfect’ the
first time. - Review the Results: Review what worked and what didn’t work.
Other ways you can teach your children problem-solving skills:
Model Problem Solving Behaviour
Problem-solving is often done in steps that can be slow and sometimes tedious. Model patience and
perseverance as well as how to follow a structured method.
Ask For Advice
When you face a problem, ask your kids for advice. This helps them develop problem-solving skills and
learn that everyone encounters challenges.
Learn From The Past
Oftentimes children will have encountered a similar situation previously. Have them think about a
comparable problem they have experienced in the past and how they were able to solve the issue. Teach
them that it’s okay to re-use strategies.
Ask Open-Ended Questions
While the easiest solution would be to give your child the answer, it doesn’t help him develop the skills
he needs to problem solve when you aren’t around. Instead, ask open-ended questions to help him
elaborate on his thoughts and provide a more descriptive response. Open-ended questions typically
begin with words like ‘why’ or ‘how’. A few examples of open-ended questions are:
What do you think would work best in this situation?
Why do you think this solution is the one that will work?
What will you do differently next time?
Emphasize the Process, Not The End Result
When you emphasize the process, it helps your child improve their problem-solving skills through effort
and practice and encourages a growth mindset. It also teaches them that the first solution may not
always be the best, and that’s okay.
What To Do When Your Child is Feeling Unmotivated To Learn
The second half of the school year is when many students often feel unmotivated to learn,
especially this past year with the back-and-forth of online and in-person learning. If your child is
feeling unmotivated, the first thing to do is let them know it’s normal to feel this way sometimes,
and that feeling unmotivated is something they will deal with throughout life. The good news is,
you can change it!
Have Your Kids Visualize Their Goals:
A study done in 2011 at the Pamplin College of Business at Virginia Tech showed the easier a
goal is to see, the closer it seems. For instance, if your child has a goal of reading a certain
number of books before the end of the school year, you can create a poster with the title of each
book that they can cross off when it’s done. If they are striving to get a certain grade in a
subject, create a chart where they can document the results of their exams and projects in that
class.
Change Up Your Environment:
There are some things you can change and some things you can’t – like homework. If you can’t
change your to-do list, change where you get things done. Something as simple as finding a
new place you can study even if it’s just for one session can help your child feel more
motivated. Some ideas include:
- Moving to a new area in your home
- Take your homework outside to a local park or even just to your backyard or balcony
The local library.
Organize Workspace Both At Home and In School
Clutter affects not just your workspace but your mind as well. Our brains actually like order, and
if you are surrounded by clutter it drains your cognitive resources, reducing the ability to focus.
Go through both your at-home workspace and in-school workspace (including lockers) to get rid
of anything you don’t need and organize what is left. This is also a good time to create a
calendar on a device or utilize a planner to keep track of deadlines in each of your child’s
classes.
Teach Them To Take Care of Basic Needs
Kids are humans and it’s important that they are taking care of their needs like getting enough
sleep, eating well, staying hydrated, getting physical activity, and socializing. It’s hard to be
motivated to learn if you’re falling asleep in class, or can’t concentrate because you didn’t drink
enough water.
Consider Getting a Tutor
If your child is unmotivated to learn and homework has become a battle, consider hiring a tutor.
A tutor can turn homework and study into a positive experience by applying lessons in a way
that works with your child’s strengths while also teaching him/her time management and
learning skills.
The Power of Play in Your Child’s Learning
We often think of academics and play as two separate entities but study
after study shows us that play is an integral component in a child’s learning. Play is, in fact, so powerful, it can
be used as an intervention to close achievement gaps between children ages 3 to 6. Learning is
not simply cognitive and academic but is broad, interconnected, and dynamic.
Did you know that play is so important to optimal child development that it has been recognized
by the United Nations High Commission for Human Rights as a right of every child? Play allows
children to use their creativity while developing their imagination, dexterity, and physical,
cognitive, and emotional development. And as children master their world, play helps them to
develop new competencies which lead to enhanced confidence and resiliency. Our tutors often
see this boost in confidence when students grasp concepts that they were struggling with
previously.
What Play Can Do:
0 – 3 Years: Play at this age is about responsive social interactions that help children build
healthy brain connections.
3 – 12 Years: At this age, skills and concepts learned at school are deepened through play.
12+: Play helps kids to collaborate and problem-solve.
In addition to play being an integral component in a child’s learning, parents are an integral part of the tutoring process as well. How you reinforce the lessons your children
are learning through real-world practice is just as important as the learning itself. This doesn’t
necessarily mean printing out math sheets or having your kids write essays. A lesson on
fractions can be reinforced by baking cookies together. Playing a game of UNO with your kids
teaches them to strategize and match colours and numbers. What they learn with us, is
strengthened at home with you.
So this Family Day long weekend, don’t feel guilty about taking the time off to play. You’re helping to improve
their education.
Tips For Transitioning Back To Online Learning
With the rise of Omicron cases across the country, it’s possible many schools may be
transitioning to either 100% online learning or a hybrid model, at least for the foreseeable future.
The good news is (a) this will hopefully be a temporary measure with an end date in sight and
(b) since we’ve been through this before, it’s not a complete unknown. Parents and kids are far
more prepared to deal with the daily challenges.
We recognize that the transition will be more difficult for some students than others, especially if
those students didn’t thrive in the online learning environment previously.
We have a few suggestions on how to make that transition easier.
HYBRID MODEL
1) Find out how the daily and/or weekly schedule in your school district will work. Will you
be alternating in-person and online days? Or will you have in-person classes for one
portion of the day and online classes for the other portion?
2) Once you learn your school schedule, write it out on a whiteboard or large calendar so
everyone in the family knows where they should be each day.
3) Involve your kids in creating the weekly schedule so they have some control over the
situation.
ONLINE MODEL
1. If you’ve dismantled your child’s home workspace because they’ve been attending
school in person, now is the time to set it up again. Try to find a space that is away from
the television, other family members (if possible) and any other distractions. Involve
them in the process so the workspace feels like their own.
2. Set up a daily schedule including time for mini-breaks throughout the day.
3. Re-familiarize them with any programs/software they will use for school work and exams.
FOR BOTH ONLINE AND HYBRID
1. Stay in contact with their educators. Maintaining communication can help parents
monitor their child’s progress and keep students informed about virtual/in-class learning
plans. By staying up to date, you can support your child and prepare them for whatever
the next step in their education will be.
2. Hire a tutor: On top of planning and teaching classes, teachers are in many cases
responsible for ensuring a safe classroom environment. Teaching and support staff,
already stretched thin before the pandemic, are not always in a position to offer extra
help. Whether your child needs tools and resources to adapt to online learning again, or
to fill in knowledge gaps, a Prep Academy tutor can help.
Back-to-School Routine Tips After the Break
You conquered back-to-school after the summer break but do you need to set a back-to-school
routine after the winter break? It was only two weeks, right? How bad can it be?
The truth is you definitely need to help your kids get back into a back-to-school-routine. Throughout the
holidays your kids probably had less structure, more visiting with friends and families, more
excitement, and eating and sleeping schedules that deviated from what they are used to. The
holiday break may only be two weeks but it really is like the first day of school all over again.
Here are some easy ways to get them back into a more structured routine:
Sleep Schedule
A few days before going back to school, have your kids go to bed a bit earlier and wake up a bit
earlier. You don’t need to have them wake at the same time as when they go to school but this
transition will help make that first day easier.
Create Intentional Goals Together
It’s the perfect time to start the year strong by creating intentional goals as a family. Give each
person three pieces of paper and title them:
- Things to Learn
- Things to Try
- Things to Improve
Write down everything you can think of and then discuss which goals are attainable for 2022. Once
you’ve narrowed the list to goals that are realistic (sorry, eating every cookie in the world will have to be
crossed off) have them write that list on a fresh piece of paper. Now each time they reach one of their
goals, they can cross it off. This exercise is great for helping to create a growth mindset and have kids
focus on personal goals.
Review Your Homework Rules
After a few weeks with no homework, set the standard by going over your expectations for when and
where homework should be done.
Get Organized
Check your children’s school supplies to ensure they have everything they need, organize messy binders,
and clean out backpacks and lunch bags to start off fresh.
Reinforce The Positives
After two weeks of days spent relaxing in flannel pj’s to going out into cold weather first thing in the
morning, your kids might not be enthusiastic about going back to school. Reinforce the positives like
seeing their friends, sharing stories, getting to tackle their favourite subjects, and how good it feels to be
back into a routine.
Pack Your Patience
It can be more difficult for some kids to return to a back-to-school routine so be patient with them and yourself those
first few weeks.
Tips For Acing That Next Test
Mid-terms can be a stressful time. With a time restraint in place and so much at stake, exams
can cause anxiety for many students.
It’s natural to feel some stress before an exam but one way to combat that is to be prepared.
Below are tips to help you make the grade on your next exam.
Before the Test
Be Informed
Before you even begin studying ensure you are clear on what material will be on the test and
the test format. You will study differently for an in-class essay as opposed to a multiple choice
exam.
Prepare Your Time
Don’t attempt to cram all your studying into one long session right before the exam. Space out your work
into shorter periods of time a week or two prior to your exams. Consistency is key.
Study In A Place With No Distractions
Find a space that is away from the television, family members, and any other distractions. Put your
electronics aside and ensure you have all the materials you need on hand.
Hire a Tutor
A good tutor can help your child organize studying time, help identify strengths and weaknesses, and
target their barriers to learning. As well, the personalized feedback can make the studying process
significantly more efficient and help your child attain a firmer grasp on the material.
Get Enough Sleep
Getting enough sleep is crucial to midterm studying. When you’re sleep deprived it makes it difficult to
focus properly and receive information, and memory recall is better when you’re well rested.
The Day Of The Exam
Do a Quick Review
Keep the material fresh in your mind by taking 20 minutes to quickly review what you’ve studied
previously.
Arrive Early
Set the tone for your test by arriving early and ensuring you’re properly prepared and have all the
materials you need. You can also use this time to ask your teacher any last-minute questions you may
have.
Listen To Instructions
As the teacher is handing out the exam, listen carefully to the instructions so you know what is expected
of you. Don’t be afraid to ask to have the instructions repeated if you don’t fully understand or miss
something that was said.
Take a Deep Breath
If you find you’ve drawn a blank, don’t panic. Take five to ten deep breaths and release the tension in your
body to calm yourself. The more anxious you are, the more difficult it will be to recall the information.
Last but not least, remind yourself that you’ve studied and are prepared for the test you are about to take.
Choosing the right school for your child
If the time has come in your child’s educational journey where you are considering or
committed to finding an independent or private school for them, you’ve come to the
right place. There are many options in and around the Toronto area when choosing a
school. The first consideration is whether or not you are looking for a co-ed or single-sex
school. From there, there are a few more considerations to keep in mind when selecting
the schools you wish to apply to.
1. Zone in on your child’s strengths & needs
When selecting where to apply, two of the most important factors to consider are; do
they have the support my child needs? Do they have the resources (e.g., teams, clubs,
speciality subjects) that will allow my child to explore and grow in their strengths and
interests? Once you’ve narrowed down these areas you will have a better idea of what
school environment you are looking for.
2. Make a list of non-negotiables
This list could be three simple bullet notes, or it could be a longer list. However long your
list is, ensure that the schools meet all this criteria when doing your research. Writing a list
of non-negotiables will keep you in the right direction when considering school
environments. A few examples no more than a 20 minute drive, must have access to
ample outdoor space or opportunities for experiential learning.
3. Think Big Picture
How long will your child attend this school? Are you looking for a school for your child to
go to for K-12, K-8 or is it a bridge school (i.e., is your child going for middle or high
school before post-secondary education)? When you view your school selection in this
lens, you will have a better idea of what you need from the school.
4. Visit the campus
Due to COVID, in-person visits may not be an option but many offer virtual tours or
pre-recorded videos. You and your child should get a feel for the school environment
and if it meets (or exceeds!) your expectations.
5. Bring a list of questions
If you get to the interview portion of the application process, ensure you have a list of
questions to ask the admissions team. Not only does it show your interest in the school,
but shows your commitment to your child’s education.
Whether you are in the midst of the application process or thinking about starting
applications, these are a few areas to consider when selecting a school for your child.
Selecting the right school for your child is one of the best investments you can make for
their future.
The school application and interview process can seem daunting at first, but with the
right support in your corner it will become an enjoyable experience. As an educational
consultant, I work with families throughout the school application process and
transitioning into their new school environment. If you’re wondering how my services
can help your family, email info@reneweducation.ca to book your 15-minute
complimentary discovery call. I would be happy to learn more about your family and
how I can best support you during this exciting time!
– Paige Walker
Owner of Renew Education
Homework Hygiene: Make The Most Of Your Homework Routine
We’re about two months into the school year and that means, more than likely, your child has
already brought home unfinished classroom work or assignments.
While your child may not love doing homework, it will always be a part of their education so it’s
best to establish solid study routines early one. The routine nature of habits is part of what
makes them so effective. Creating healthy homework habits will set them up for success now
and in the future.
Create a Homework Zone:
Try to find a space that is away from the television, other family members (if possible) and any
other distractions. This includes having all the materials they need readily available so they
aren’t stepping away from their homework to try to locate a calculator or pen.
Schedule a Regular Time:
This time will differ depending on your child. Some will be ready to hit the homework right after
school while others need downtime and a snack or dinner to recharge. Also, plan out time on
weekends if there is a larger project that needs to be completed.
Block Out Their Time:
Teach your children to manage their time by breaking up the work into chunks. Some children
prefer to take a break only after a task is completed while others will do better by working in
specific time intervals (if this is the case, you can set a timer).
Start Smart
Have your kids start with the homework item they least want to do. This gets it out of the way while they
are still feeling ‘fresh’ which means it will less likely be a struggle to motivate them later on.
Keep In Communication
Learn what your child’s teacher has in place for homework policies and what to do if your child is
having difficulties finishing assignments at home (Should you call? Send an email?).
Be a Motivator
You shouldn’t do your child’s homework for them but you can absolutely be there to talk it
through with them and/or go through their notes/textbook together. Make yourself available for
questions and give encouragement when needed. If your child is getting frustrated, take a short
break.
Seek Extra Help
If homework time is always a struggle or you find your child is bringing home more work than
expected because they aren’t finishing assignments in class, you may want to consider a tutor.
Working with a tutor can not only motivate your student but also puts their needs at the center of
the educational process, empowering them to focus and get their work done.
5 Simple Back-To-School Tips To Make a Stress-Free Transition
Going back to school this year may look different for your kids. Many haven’t been inside a
school for a year or more depending on where you live which means your kids might be a little
out of practice when it comes to tackling a traditional school day structure. As schools start to
open, both parents and kids may be feeling uncertain and anxious.
To help ease the stress here’s what we suggest:
Reestablish a Routine
Schedules tend to go by the wayside during the summer. Later bedtimes, even later wake up
times, and meals eaten whenever, wherever, it happens to the best of us. Getting into the swing
of a new schedule doesn’t happen overnight and may actually take a few weeks for everyone to
adjust. To help make the transition easier, make the change to earlier bedtimes incrementally
and establish a regular eating schedule to get them, and you, back on track.
Create a Morning Checklist
Back to school means back to routine. If your kid(s) have been learning from home over the
past year, forgetting a calculator or pen simply meant running to another room to grab it. Now
it’s essential to ensure their backpacks have all the essentials for the entire school day. Make
the morning rush a little less stressful by creating a list on a whiteboard or notepad that they
check off when each item is completed. To make it even less stressful, have them pack their
backpacks the night before.
Set Easy/Fun Mini-Goals For The First Week
For the first week, put the academics aside and make it all about getting back into the routine.
Your kids may be a bit rusty at having to change classes and interact with peers and teachers in
person. Mini-goals like learning the teachers’ names and class routines, reconnecting with
friends, and even your own home morning routines will help reduce anxiety.
Let Your Kids Know They Aren’t Alone
If your children are feeling anxious, reassure them that many kids are also feeling the same
way, as are many parents and it’s okay to feel how they are feeling. Ask them specifically what
they are worried about (what if I lose my mask?) and role play what they can do. But also focus
on the fun things that are going to happen this year (they get to see their friends again and take
part in activities).
Consider Getting a Tutor
The beginning of this academic year will be about getting kids back on track and all at the same
learning level. Despite the herculean effort of parents who became at home teachers, many
while still working full-time, online learning wasn’t a good fit for all kids. A tutor at the start of the
school year can help your child catch up. But it’s not just about the grades, unlike a teacher who
is trying to engage 20+ students, a tutor can develop personal learning strategies that build off
your child’s strengths and help them work through course material in their own way and at their
own pace.
Last but not least, be patient with your kids AND with yourself – setting up a new routine and
getting into the swing of things will take some time but together you can do it.