Toddlers learn by doing
It’s difficult as a parent to watch your youngster struggle with a problem, whether it’s putting together a jigsaw puzzle or figuring out how to work a contraption. You want so much to just tell them the answer or show them how to do it, but you know that solving one’s own problems is the best way to learn. Doing the puzzle or working the contraption for them doesn’t help them learn how to be patient, try different methods or figure out a solution on their own, and developing problem-solving skills is vital to childhood development.
It’s frustrating for toddlers and young children to have to daily figure out something new, whether it’s how to put on a shirt the right way or how to put their shoes on the right feet. They have a low tolerance for frustration at that age and when they just can’t find the answer, it leads to meltdowns. And when they have meltdowns, it’s stressful for the whole family. On the other hand though, when they finally get something, they are so excited and proud – “Mom, look what I did!” Cheering for the small victories enables kids to become more confident in their ability to take on more challenging tasks.
How can you help?
Helping a young child focus on what they can do versus what they cannot do, bolsters their self-esteem and gives them confidence to try new things. Toddlers and young kids are constantly told they’re “too little” to do the things they see other kids and adults doing, and it can be disheartening, as well as make them feel left out and frustrated. By concentrating on their abilities, little kids can feel just like their more confident older siblings and peers. Encouraging words, clapping, rewards, enthusiasm over achieving milestones and other positive feedback can go a very long way towards helping little ones gain the confidence they need to develop their problem-solving skills.
However, some kids are just more naturally inclined to give up easier than others. Some children are more patient, and some are not; some have perseverance and some do not. For those kids who need a little extra help developing their problem-solving skills, BalticEssentials.com has a good solution – a Baltic Amber and Russian Serpentine necklace. Russian Serpentine is a stone with a snakeskin-like pattern that helps to magnify a person’s natural abilities by imparting a sense of mental clarity and enhancing their memory. When young children learn new things, it is committed to their long-term memory; retrieving those memories and applying them to new situations is fundamental to solving problems. Baltic Amber is known throughout the world for its unique anti-inflammatory properties. Toddlers and young kids are very susceptible to teething pain and digestive discomfort, and if they don’t feel well, they’ll be less inclined to attempt new challenges.
Give your child a little extra boost with Russian Serpentine and help them enhance their self-confidence to solve new problems. Who knows? Maybe a toddler finding a way to solve a jigsaw puzzle today will be finding a way to solve the world’s problems in the future.
