problem solving games kindergarten

Kindergarten Lessons

Involve me and I learn...

Math Teaching/Learning

KINDERGARTEN PROBLEM SOLVING

Learning how to approach and solve problems early in life, not only helps children enjoy and look forward to sorting them out, it also helps them make and keep friends.

Preschool and kindergarten problem solving activities give children an opportunity to use skills they have learned previously and give you an opening to teach new problem solving strategies.

Introduce the vocabulary of solving problems with stories, puppets and everyday situations that occur. “We only have 10 apples but there are 20 students. This is a problem . Let’s think of some ways that we can solve this problem ?”

Use terms like, “a different way, let’s brainstorm, that’s a challenge, let’s think of some different solutions”.

How do I develop a problem solving approach?

Asking children questions such as , “How would you…?” or “Show me how you could…?”, help set the stage for teaching with a problem solving approach. Keep problem solving topics about subjects that interest the students. Kids are constantly trying to problem solve as they play.

Students are learning to:

• Identify problems or challenges
• Fact find (what do I know, what have I tried)
• Think of ways to solve the problem (brainstorm, creative thinking, generate ideas)
• Test their ideas

What preschool and kindergarten problem solving strategies can I teach?

Young children need real objects, pictures, diagrams, and models to solve problems. Start with real objects and move slowly to diagrams and pictures. Any of the following problem solving strategies will help them work through the four steps above:

• using objects
• acting the problem out
• looking for patterns
• guessing and checking
• drawing pictures
• making a graph
• teach with projects

Play creates classroom opportunities for problem solving

Perhaps a child is getting frustrated as he/she plays with blocks. To help him/her focus on the problem ask questions such as:

• What are you trying to do with your blocks?
• What isn’t working?
• What have you tried?
• Can you think of another way to stack the blocks?
• What else can you try?

Encourage creative thinking

Reinforce creative thinking, not results. The ability to solve problems and think creativity is important.

Talk about the different ways the child tried to solve the problem rather than the outcome. “Joe tried three different ways to stack the blocks. That was a great effort, Joe.”

Social classroom problem solving opportunities are abundant…

• Identify the problem – – Talk about the problem. For instance, some children may be worried because other kids are hiding the center markers for the play center and giving them to their friends. Other kids are not getting turns.
• Fact find – – There are only 4 center markers for the play center because it is small and more than 4 kids would be too crowded. Some kids are hiding them so they can play with the same children each time.
• Brainstorm ideas – How can everyone have turns? What ideas do you have? What could we try?
• Test the idea – Let’’s try that idea and meet again tomorrow and see how it’s working.

Investigating and Problem Solving

Using short periods of time examining and investigating objects, such as feathers or rocks, captures children’s attention and challenges them to inquire, to develop mind sets of being problem solvers and to think independently. Find a sample lesson here…

A Blog About Parenting: Coping Skills, Behavior Management and Special Needs

25 Fun Problem Solving Activities for Kids

Problem-solving activities for kids : Explore 24 fun problem-solving games and activities, and learn effective tips and strategies to teach kids problem-solving skills. If you want to explore problem-solving strategies more in-depth, you can also grab our workbook “ Problem-Solving for Kids ” (printable resource).

Problem-solving is the cognitive process of finding solutions to challenges or complex situations.

A systematic approach to problem-solving tends to include defining the problem, gathering information and data, generating potential solutions, evaluating the pros and cons of each solution, making a decision, and implementing the chosen solution.

Effective problem-solving often requires critical thinking, a good dose of creativity, and the ability to consider multiple perspectives. It may also involve identifying patterns, breaking down a problem into manageable chunks, and applying our logic to develop solutions.

Problem-solving is present in everyday situations and across all fields: business, science, personal life, and education. There is not one single aspect in our lives where we don’t need to apply our problem-solving skills.

Table of Contents

• Problem-solving steps
• Development of problem-solving in childhood
• Benefits of developing problem-solving skills
• 10 Tips to teach kids problem-solving skills
• 10 Examples of problem-solving strategies
• 25 Problem-solving activities and games for kids

Problem-Solving Steps

Some key components of problem-solving include:

• Identifying the problem Recognizing and defining the issue or challenge that needs to be addressed.
• Analyzing the problem Investigating and understanding the underlying causes, factors, and relationships related to the problem.
• Generating solutions Generating potential solutions or strategies to address the problem.
• Evaluating all possible solutions (Pros and Cons Analysis) Assessing the feasibility, effectiveness, and potential consequences of each solution. Considering the positive and negative aspects of each solution.
• Decision-making Selecting the best solution based on our analysis and judgment.
• Implementing the best solution Actioning our chosen solution
• Monitoring progress and results
• Reflecting on the outcomes Reviewing and evaluating the outcomes of the implemented solution, learning from the experience, and making adjustments if necessary.

Development of Problem-Solving Skills in Childhood

Children begin to develop problem-solving skills from a very early age, and these skills continue to develop and refine throughout childhood and adolescence.

Babies soon learn about action and reaction. And, as early as eight months, they begin to acquire an understanding of cause and effect (they shake a rattle, it makes a sound; they push a toy, it falls)

Between 13 and 24 months, they start solving simple problems through trial and error and engage in symbolic play using their imagination.

As children progress into middle childhood (ages 7-11), they develop more advanced problem-solving skills. They become capable of understanding multiple perspectives and can consider multiple factors when solving problems. They start using logic and reasoning to solve increasingly complex problems.

During adolescence (ages 12 and up), problem-solving skills continue to develop. Teenagers can generate and test hypotheses and use deductive and inductive reasoning to arrive at solutions.

Each child will develop their problem-solving skills at their own pace. Some children may show advanced problem-solving abilities at an earlier age. Others may require more time and experience to develop these skills fully.

Benefits of Developing Problem-Solving Skills in Children

Problem-solving skills in children are crucial for children’s cognitive, social, and emotional development. It equips them to approach challenges, think critically, make informed decisions, and find creative solutions. 

The benefits of good problem-solving skills in children include:

• Positive impact on self-esteem and confidence Identifying, analyzing, and solving their problems contributes to our kids’ sense of competence .
• Fosters Independence and Autonomy When our kids are able to problem-solve on their own, they take one more step toward independence
• Academic Success Problem-solving skills contribute to academic achievement, as they help students analyze and solve complex problems across various subjects.
• Cognitive Development Problem-solving fosters cognitive skills such as logical reasoning, analytical thinking, and abstract reasoning.
• Critical Thinking Problem-solving enhances critical thinking abilities, enabling children to evaluate information, identify biases, and make informed judgments.
• Creativity Problem-solving promotes creativity by encouraging children to think outside the box, generate innovative ideas, and explore multiple solutions.
• Emotional Resilience Problem-solving skills enhance emotional resilience by enabling children to manage and cope with challenges effectively, reducing stress and promoting well-being.
• Improved Social Interactions/Relationships Problem-solving abilities contribute to better social interactions, conflict resolution , and peer collaboration, promoting healthy relationships.
• Future career success Problem-solving skills are highly valued in the workplace and can positively influence future career success.

10+ Helpful Tips to Teach Kids Problem-Solving Skills

Teaching problem-solving skills to kids is an important part of their cognitive development. It helps them develop critical thinking, creativity, and resilience.

But how can we help our kids and students to develop this essential skill?

We can help our kids and students develop and improve their problem-solving skills in many ways.  These are some helpful tips that you could consider:

• Model problem-solving behavior When you see yourself in a problem-solving situation, verbalize your thought process: “I wonder how I should address this issue. I guess my alternatives could be… They all have positives and negatives….”
• Let them participate in the problem-solving situation “Could you help me solve this puzzle?”
• Provide real-life problem-solving situations Real-life scenarios make problem-solving more meaningful for kids. For example, discuss how to resolve a conflict with a sibling or how to make the morning routine smoother.
• Teach them how to break down problems Show them how to break down complex problems into manageable sub-problems.
• Practice brainstorming Create brainstorming situations where all the family (or the classroom) can contribute to solving a problem
• Teach the value of perseverance Sometimes, we must stick to a situation and persevere before finding a solution. Encourage kids to persevere through challenges and setbacks, emphasizing that mistakes and failures are opportunities for learning.
• Encourage critical thinking Encourage kids to analyze situations, consider different perspectives, and evaluate possible outcomes.
• How could we make your school lunch healthier but still yummy?
• How could we reuse/recycle all this paper?
• What could we do to help you remember all the steps in your night routine?
• Encourage reflection When they can find a solution for a problem, don’t jump to solve it for them. Encourage them to reflect on the problem and find and evaluate alternatives. And after a problem is solved, think about the whole process and the learnings. “How did this work?” “What did you learn” “Do you need to change anything?”
• Foster creativity Provide them with opportunities for imaginative play, creative projects, and brainstorming sessions.
• Teach the value of teamwork Teach kids the importance of working together to solve problems. Engage them in group activities or projects that require teamwork and collaboration. This helps kids learn the value of different perspectives and work together towards an objective while they practice their communication skills.
• Teach decision-making skills Teach kids how to approach problems systematically by going through the steps we have mentioned in our first section.
• Encourage both structured and free play. Structured play can help you create good problem-solving situations, while free play will foster creativity.

Developing problem-solving skills is an ongoing process that will also continue in adulthood. Provide your kids with guidance and support, and celebrate their efforts and achievements along the way.

10 Examples of Problem-Solving Strategies

There are different strategies that can help us solve a wide range of problems. Here are some commonly recognized problem-solving strategies:

1 . Trial and Error : This is the first problem strategy that we ever learn. We start using trial and error strategies in infancy, and it continues serving its purpose in many situations. This strategy involves trying different solutions or approaches and learning from the errors or failures until a successful solution is found.

2. Algorithm: An algorithm is a step-by-step procedure or a set of rules that guarantees a solution to a specific problem. It is a systematic approach to problem-solving that follows a predetermined set of instructions.

3. Heuristics: Heuristics are mental shortcuts or rules of thumb that help simplify problem-solving by providing quick and efficient strategies. While heuristics can be effective in many situations, they may also lead to biases and errors.

4. Divide and Conquer: This strategy involves breaking down a complex problem into smaller, more manageable chunks or steps that make the overall problem easier to tackle.

5. Working Backwards: This strategy involves starting from the desired outcome and working backward to determine the steps or actions needed to reach that outcome. We often use this problem-solving strategy when we set goals.

6. Analogical Reasoning: Analogical reasoning involves drawing parallels between the current problem and a similar problem that has been solved in the past. By applying the solution from the previous problem to the current one, individuals can find a solution more efficiently.

7. Brainstorming: Brainstorming gets lots of brains working on the same problem. It is a great collaborative problem-solving strategy that can bring different perspectives and experiences to the table and may result in lots of creative ideas and solutions. 

8. Decision Matrix: A decision matrix is a systematic approach to evaluating and comparing different options or solutions. It involves creating a matrix that lists alternatives and the criteria for evaluation. It assigns weights or scores to each criterion to come up with the optimal alternative.

9. Root Cause Analysis: Sometimes, we need to understand what is causing a problem before we can attempt to solve it, as different causes may require different approaches (for example, when you are sick, your doctor may need to understand what is causing the problem before prescribing a medicine)

10. Simulation and Modeling: Simulation involves creating a simplified representation or model of a problem situation to gain insights and test different scenarios.

Our choice of strategy will depend on the problem, available resources, and our own personal preferences and circumstances. We may also need to combine strategies or apply different ones to different aspects of a complex problem.

(Disclosure: We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. You can also read our Disclosure & Disclaimer policy  here )

Best Problem-Solving Activities for Kids

Play-based activities are centered around play and are designed to engage children in active learning and exploration. And fun problem-solving activities are a great way to develop children’s critical thinking, creativity, and decision-making skills.

In this section, we will review some problem-solving games and activities that will engage your kids’ critical-thinking skills and creativity.

1. Puzzle Games Puzzles are a fun activity for children of all ages. Young children will enjoy simple puzzles, while older children (and adults!) can have fun with more complex ones. Encourage them to use logical thinking and problem-solving strategies to complete the puzzles.

2. Crosswords A crossword is another fun type of puzzle and a good source of mental stimulation.

3. Sudoku Sudoku is a popular logic-based puzzle that involves filling a grid with numbers.

It can be extremely easy or very challenging, adaptable even for young learners.

Let’s go now for a couple of building challenges!

4. Build the Tallest Tower Give the child a set of materials (Legos, building blocks, wooden blocks, or other construction materials) and ask them to build the tallest tower they can. This simple game will encourage them to problem-solve as they build and figure out how to make the tower stable.

5. Build Towers with Different Materials Ask your child to build three different towers with different materials. Then assess how stable they are and how much weight they can hold. Analyze the pros and cons of using each type of material.

6. Treasure Hunt Set up a treasure hunt with clues leading to hidden objects or rewards. Children will have to follow the clues and solve puzzles to find the ultimate prize. This activity encourages problem-solving, critical thinking, and teamwork.

7. Scavenger Hunt Playing Scavenger Hunt can be a fun way for our kids to put their creative problem-solving skills to good use. Provide them with clues and puzzles that they must solve in order to find the next clue.

8. Mystery Bag Fill a bag with random objects and ask children to come up with creative uses for each item. Encourage them to think outside the box and find innovative solutions.

9. Memory Game While memory games primarily focus on memory retention and recall, they can indirectly contribute to problem-solving skills by developing cognitive abilities such as attention, information processing, and adjusting their strategies.

10. Role-Playing Scenarios Create role-playing scenarios where children have to solve a problem or make decisions. For example, pretend to be stranded on a desert island and ask them to decide what items they will take and how they will survive.

11. Role-Play Social Situations Work in developing social skills with social problem-solving situations.

12. Brainstorming Sessions Choose a topic or problem and hold brainstorming sessions where children can generate as many ideas as possible. Encourage them not to limit themselves (even if alternatives feel unfeasible!)

13. Team Building Activities and Games Engage children in team-building games like building a balloon tower. Each team member will need to collaborate, communicate, and problem-solve together to complete the project.

14. Escape Rooms An escape room is a super fun team problem-solving activity.

In an escape room, participants are locked inside a themed room and must work together to solve puzzles, find clues, and accomplish tasks within a given time limit in order to “escape” from the room.

15. Science Experiments Conduct simple science experiments that involve problem-solving. For example, in the classic “sink or float” experiment, children predict and test which objects will sink or float in water.

Problem-Solving Board Games

There are many board games that will test our kids problems solving activities. These are just a few examples:

16. Cluedo Players must solve a murder mystery by deducing the murderer, the weapon used, and the location of the crime. Players collect and examine clues to eliminate possibilities and make logical deductions.

17. Codenames Another classic game where players are split into two teams and must guess words based on clues from their teammates.

There are many codenames games available, including themes like Disney or Harry Potter.

18. Mastermind Game In this strategy game players take turns setting and solving secret codes

19. Scrabble Scrabble is a classic word game where players form words on a game board using letter tiles.

Kids must use their problem-solving skills to analyze the available letters, consider the best word combination and strategically place those words to score the highest points.

Learning Problem-Solving with Card Games

Card games provide opportunities for kids to develop problem-solving skills such as strategy, memory, pattern recognition, decision-making, and observation.

Just a couple of examples:

20. Uno Uno is a classic card game where kids match cards based on color or number. They need to assess their cards, strategize and make decisions about which cards to play to get rid of their cards while also considering the cards in their opponents’ hands.

21. Go Fish Go Fish is a classic card game where players try to collect sets of cards by asking other players if they have specific cards. Players need to remember which cards they have and make decisions about who to ask and what sets to pursue.

22. Coding Challenges Introduce children to coding activities using platforms like Scratch (or ScratchJr for younger kids), Code.org, or Tynker. Coding involves problem-solving and logical thinking, and children can create interactive stories, games, or animations.

23. Outdoor Problem Solving Take children outside and present them with challenges that require problem-solving, such as building a shelter using natural materials or finding their way through an obstacle course.

24. Problem-Solving Worksheets Help your child follow a systematic approach to problem-solving with these helpful worksheets

25. Goal-Setting Activities for Kids Learning to set goals and make plans to achieve them is also a problem-solving activity. I have several resources to teach kids about goal-setting that I will list below:

• Goal-Setting Activities for Kids
• SMART Goals for Kids
• Goal Tracker Thermometer

Remember to provide guidance and support during these activities while encouraging children to think independently and come up with their own solutions.

Problem-Solving Worksheets

Looking for kid-friendly examples of problem-solving strategies ?

This workbook explores the following  problem-solving strategies  (with child-friendly examples and activities):

• Trial and Error
• Heuristics (Clever shortcuts)
• Divide and Conquer
• Working Backwards
• Brainstorming
• Decision Matrix
• Root Cause Analysis
• Systematic problem-solving

One Comment

I always look forward to your articles with active interventions. Thank you!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

22 Problem Solving Activities for Preschool

Problem-solving activities can help children build resilience, think critically, and develop confidence in their ability to tackle challenges.

But it can be challenging to find engaging and age-appropriate activities that promote problem-solving skills in preschoolers.

We will share Problem Solving Activities for Preschool at home or in the classroom.

From simple puzzles to complex challenges, these activities will help your child develop problem-solving skills that will serve them well throughout their lives.

Shape Sorters :

Shape sorters are one of the best problem-solving activities for preschoolers. They are simple yet effective tools that help children develop their critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Shape sorters come in different shapes and sizes, and they are designed to help children sort and match different shapes and colors.

Playing with shape sorters helps children develop their hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills, and cognitive abilities. As they fit the different shapes into the corresponding holes, they learn about shape recognition, spatial awareness, and cause-and-effect relationships.

Related: Free Printable Math Worksheets for Preschoolers

Building Towers with Blocks:

Building towers with blocks is a classic activity that encourages children to problem-solve as they work to create a stable structure. Children must figure out how to balance and stack the blocks to create a tower that won’t topple over. This activity helps children develop their spatial reasoning, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills as they adjust their approach to create a more stable structure.

Related: 20 Best Pre-Writing Activities for Preschoolers

Treasure Hunts:

Treasure hunts are an exciting way to encourage children to solve problems and work collaboratively. Parents or caregivers can create a series of clues and riddles that lead children to a hidden “treasure.” Children must use their problem-solving skills to decipher the clues and find the treasure. This activity promotes critical thinking, spatial awareness, and teamwork.

Memory Games:

Memory games are a great way to challenge children’s cognitive abilities and improve their problem-solving skills. These games involve laying out a set of cards face down and having children flip over two cards at a time to try and match pairs. This activity helps children develop their memory, focus, and attention to detail.

Related: 20 Winter Math Activities for Preschoolers

Puzzles are a fantastic way to promote problem-solving skills in young children. These activities require children to use their critical thinking and spatial reasoning skills to fit puzzle pieces together. Puzzles can range in difficulty from simple shapes to more complex scenes, and they can be adjusted to fit the child’s developmental level.

Obstacle Courses:

Obstacle courses are a fun and engaging way to encourage children to solve problems and work on their motor skills. Parents or caregivers can create a series of obstacles that children must navigate to reach a specific goal. This activity promotes critical thinking, spatial awareness, and coordination. Obstacle courses can be adjusted to fit the child’s age and developmental level, making them a versatile and effective tool for promoting problem-solving skills in young children.

Storytelling:

Storytelling is an excellent way to promote problem-solving skills in preschoolers. By listening to stories, children are exposed to different scenarios and situations that require problem-solving skills. Parents or caregivers can encourage children to think about how the story’s characters solve their problems and ask them to come up with solutions to hypothetical problems.

Cooking is a fun and interactive way to promote problem-solving skills in preschoolers. Children must follow recipes, measure ingredients, and work collaboratively with others to create a finished dish. This activity helps children develop their critical thinking, math skills, and ability to follow instructions.

Role-playing is an excellent way to encourage problem-solving skills in young children. Children can pretend to be doctors, firefighters, or police officers and work together to solve problems and complete tasks. This activity promotes critical thinking, teamwork, and imagination.

Guessing Games:

Guessing games, such as “I Spy” or “20 Questions,” is an excellent way to encourage problem-solving skills in young children. These games require children to use their critical thinking and deductive reasoning skills to guess the answer correctly. This activity promotes memory, concentration, and attention to detail.

Science Experiments:

Science experiments are an engaging way to encourage problem-solving skills in young children. These activities require children to observe, hypothesize, and test their theories. Parents or caregivers can conduct simple science experiments, such as mixing baking soda and vinegar, to teach children about cause and effect. This activity promotes critical thinking, experimentation, and curiosity.

Sensory Play:

Sensory play is an excellent way to promote problem-solving skills in young children. By playing with different textures and materials, children can explore cause-and-effect relationships and develop their critical thinking skills. Parents or caregivers can set up sensory bins with materials such as rice, sand, or water to encourage children to explore and problem-solve.

Board Games:

Board games are a great way to promote problem-solving skills in preschoolers. These games require children to use their critical thinking and strategic planning skills to win the game. Games like Chutes and Ladders, Candy Land, and Connect Four are excellent choices for young children.

Scavenger Hunts:

Scavenger hunts are a fun and interactive way to encourage problem-solving skills in young children. Parents or caregivers can create a list of items for children to find and encourage them to work collaboratively to solve clues and find the items. This activity promotes critical thinking, teamwork, and spatial awareness.

Creative Building:

Creative building activities, such as using play dough, clay, or craft materials, are an excellent way to promote problem-solving skills in young children. Children can use their imagination and creativity to problem-solve and create their structures and designs. This activity promotes critical thinking, spatial awareness, and creativity.

Sensory Bins:

Sensory bins are a fun and interactive way to promote problem-solving skills in preschoolers. Parents or caregivers can set up a bin filled with different materials, such as sand, rice, or beans, and hide different objects or toys within them. Children have to use their problem-solving skills to find and identify the objects hidden within the bin. Sensory bins also promote fine motor skills, sensory exploration, and creativity.

Art Projects:

Art projects are a great way to promote problem-solving skills in young children. By encouraging children to create their art projects, parents or caregivers can help them develop their problem-solving skills by encouraging them to think creatively and find solutions to design challenges. This activity promotes critical thinking, creativity, and fine motor skills.

Cooking and Baking:

Cooking and baking are great activities to promote problem-solving skills in preschoolers. Children can measure ingredients, follow directions, and problem-solve how to mix ingredients together properly. This activity promotes critical thinking, math skills, and following directions.

Outdoor Exploration:

Outdoor exploration is an excellent way to promote problem-solving skills in young children. Parents or caregivers can take children on nature walks or hikes and encourage them to explore and problem-solve by finding different types of plants, animals, and natural landmarks. This activity promotes critical thinking, creativity, and nature appreciation.

Science Kits:

Science kits are a fun and interactive way to promote problem-solving skills in preschoolers. There are many science kits available that are age-appropriate and designed specifically for preschoolers. These kits provide children with hands-on opportunities to experiment and explore scientific concepts, which promotes curiosity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. Some science kits may include materials for making slime, growing crystals, or exploring the properties of magnets.

Dramatic Play:

Dramatic play activities provide opportunities for preschoolers to use their imaginations and problem-solving skills.

Related: Examples of Dramatic Play for Preschoolers

Parents or caregivers can set up a pretend play area with costumes, props, and toys that encourage children to use their problem-solving skills to navigate different scenarios and situations.

For example, children can play doctor and use problem-solving skills to diagnose and treat a patient, or they can play chef and use problem-solving skills to plan and prepare a meal. Dramatic play promotes creativity, social-emotional development, and problem-solving skills.

Recommended:

• 25 Pattern Block Activities for Preschool
• 25 Excellent Outdoor Games for 4 – 5 Year Olds
• 23 Matching Activities for Preschoolers

Sohaib Hasan Shah

Sohaib's journey includes 10+ years of teaching and counseling experience at BCSS School in elementary and middle schools, coupled with a BBA (Hons) with a minor in Educational Psychology from Curtin University (Australia) . In his free time, he cherishes quality moments with his family, reveling in the joys and challenges of parenthood. His three daughters have not only enriched his personal life but also deepened his understanding of the importance of effective education and communication, spurring him to make a meaningful impact in the world of education.

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

10 Simple Activities to Teach Your Preschooler Problem Solving

By: Author Tanja McIlroy

Posted on Last updated: 7 April 2024

Categories Activities for Preschoolers & Kindergarteners

During the first years of a child’s life, an important set of cognitive skills known as problem-solving abilities are developed. These skills are used throughout childhood and into adulthood.

Find out what problem solving is, why it’s important and how you can develop these skills with 10 problem-solving games and activities.

What is Problem Solving in Early Childhood?

So, what exactly is problem solving? Quite simply, it refers to the process of finding a solution to a problem .

A person uses their own knowledge and experience, as well as the information at hand to try and reach a solution. Problem solving is therefore about the thought processes involved in finding a solution.

This could be as complex as an adult working out how to get out of a financial crisis or as simple as a child working out how two blocks fit together.

Problem Solving Skills for Kids

Problem-solving skills refer to the specific thinking skills a person uses when faced with a challenge. Some problems require the use of many skills, while others are simple and may only require one or two skills.

These are some examples of problem-solving skills for preschoolers , as listed by kent.ac.uk .

• Lateral thinking
• Analytical thinking
• Decision-making skills
• Logical reasoning
• Persistence
• Communication skills
• Negotiation skills

The Importance of Developing Problem-Solving Skills in Early Childhood

Problem solving is a skill that would be difficult to suddenly develop as an adult. While you can still improve a skill at any age, the majority of learning occurs during the early years.

Preschool is the best time for a child to learn to problem solve in a fun way. The benefits of learning early will last a lifetime and the beauty of learning anything at a young age is that it is effortless .

It is like learning to play an instrument or picking up a new language – it’s just much easier and more natural at an early age.

Of all the many things preschoolers need to learn , what makes problem solving so important?

There aren’t many situations in life, at work or at school that don’t require some level of problem resolution.

Child’s play itself is filled with opportunity upon opportunity to solve all kinds of tricky situations and come up with solutions to challenges.

Problem Solving in Preschool

During the foundational years, children are constantly solving problems as they play .

Here are just a few examples of problem solving in early childhood :

• Resolving a fight over the same toy
• Reaching a ball that’s stuck in the tree
• Forming a circle while holding hands
• Making a bridge to connect two block towers
• Tying or untying a shoe
• Making up rules for a new game
• Trying to get the consistency of a mud cake right so it stops falling over

The more creative play opportunities and challenges children are given, the more they get to exercise their problem-solving muscles.

During free play , there are non-stop experiences for this, and parents and teachers can also encourage specific problem-solving skills through guided activities .

Problem Solving for Older Children

During the grades, children experience problems in many forms, some of which may be related to their academic, social and emotional well-being at school. Problems may come in the form of dealing with life issues, such as:

• Problems with friendships
• Struggling to understand something during a lesson
• Learning to balance the demands of sport and homework
• Finding the best way to study for a test
• Asking a teacher for help when needed

Problems will also form a large part of academic life as teachers will be actively developing this skill through various activities, for example:

• Solving a riddle or understanding a work of literature
• Working on projects with a friend
• Finding solutions during science experiments
• Solving mathematical problems
• Solving hypothetical problems during lessons
• Answering questions and completing exam papers

Children who have had practice during preschool will be a lot more capable when facing these challenges.

Solving Problems in Mathematics

Mathematics needs to be mentioned separately as although it is part of schooling, it is such a huge part and it depends heavily on a child’s ability to solve problems.

The entire subject of mathematics is based on solving problems. Whether you are adding 2 and 3, working out how many eggs will fit into each basket, or solving an algebraic expression, there is a problem in every question.

Mathematics is just a series of problems that need to be solved.

What we refer to as problem solving in Maths is usually answering word problems .

The reason many children find these so difficult to answer is that the question is presented as a problem through a story, rather than just numbers with symbols telling you what operation to use (addition, division, etc.)

This means a child is forced to think carefully, understand the problem and determine the best way to solve it.

These problems can involve various units (e.g. mass, capacity or currency) as well as fractions, decimals, equations and angles, to name a few. Problems tend to become more and more complex over the years.

My experience in the classroom has shown that many, many children struggle with solving word problems, from the early grades right into the senior years.

They struggle to analyze the question, understand it, determine what information they’ve been given, and what exactly they are required to solve.

The good news is that exposing a child to regular problem-solving activities and games in preschool can greatly help him to solve word problems later on in school.

If you need one good reason to do these kinds of activities, let it be for a smoother experience in mathematics – a subject so many children unnecessarily fear.

Problem Solving in the Workplace

Adults in the workplace seldom thrive without problem-solving skills. They are required to regularly solve problems .

As adults, employees are expected to independently deal with the frequent challenges, setbacks and problems that are a big part of every working environment.

Those who can face and solve their own problems will go further and cope better than those who seek constant help from others or cannot show initiative.

Some  career websites even refer to problem solving as a universal job skill. They also mention that many employees are not good at it. 

Again, although it may seem far removed, learning this skill at a young age will help a child cope right into adulthood and in the working world.

How to Teach Children Problem-Solving Skills

If early childhood is the best time to grow these skills in your young children, then how does one go about teaching them to toddlers, preschoolers and kindergarteners?

Problem solving can be taught in such a way that you expose your child to various opportunities where they will be faced with challenges.

You would not necessarily sit your 3-year-old down and tell or “teach” him all about fixing problems. Instead, you want to create opportunities for your child to grow this skill .

Using the brain to think and find solutions is a bit like working a muscle over time. Eventually, your muscle gets stronger and can handle more “ weight. ” Your child will learn to problem solve in two ways:

• Incidentally – through free play
• Through guided opportunities provided by a parent or teacher

If you make a point of encouraging thinking through games and activities, your child will develop stronger skills than if you let it all happen incidentally.

Problem-Solving Strategies and Steps

If we take a look at the steps involved in solving a problem, we can see that there are many layers involved and different types of skills. Here are the problem-solving steps according to the University of Ken. 

Step 1: Identify the problem

Step 2: Define the problem

Step 3: Examine the options

Step 4: Act on a plan

Step 5: Look at the consequences

Therefore, activities at a preschool level need not present complicated high-level problems.

• A simple activity such as identifying differences in a picture can work on the first skill needed – identifying a problem.
• Playing with construction toys can develop a child’s ability to try various solutions and examine the options when faced with a problem such as trying to find the best way to build something.
• Playing Tic-Tac-Toe would make a child predict the consequences of placing their mark in a particular square.

The most basic of activities can work on all these skills and make children competent solution finders.

How to Teach Problem Solving with Questions

The language you use around your child and your questioning technique will also greatly affect their understanding of a problem or challenge as merely something waiting for a solution to be found .

While your child is playing or when she comes to you with a problem, ask open-ended questions that will guide her in finding a potential answer independently. Use the steps listed above to formulate your questions.

Here are some examples of questions:

• What do you think made the tower of blocks fall down?
• If we build it again, how can we change the structure so that it won’t fall down next time?
• Is there a better way we can do it? If you think of a different way, we can both try it and see which works better.
• Did that work? The tower fell again so let’s try another solution.

Resist the temptation to fix every one of your child’s problems, including conflict with friends or siblings. These are important opportunities for children to learn how to resolve things by negotiating, thinking and reasoning.

With time, your child will get used to seeing a problem, understanding it, weighing up the options, taking action and evaluating the consequences.

Problems will be seen as challenges to be faced logically and not “problems.”

This post contains affiliate links for educational products that I personally recommend. If you purchase through one of them, I earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Read the terms and conditions for more details.

10 Problem-Solving Activities for Preschoolers

Here are 10 simple, easy games and problem solving activities for kids at home or at school. Many of them are the kinds of activities children should have daily exposure to.

Puzzles are one of the best thinking activities out there. Each puzzle is basically one big set of muddled-up things to be sorted out and put back together again. Find out why puzzles are important for development .

Children should have regular exposure to puzzles. They are great for developing thinking skills.

• 4 FUN PET-THEMED PUZZLES: The Melissa & Doug Pets Jigsaw Puzzles include four 12-piece puzzles featuring a...
• STURDY WOODEN STORAGE BOX: Our pets puzzles for kids can be easily stored in the included sturdy wooden...

2. Memory games

Memory games will develop your child’s memory and attention to detail.

Get your own memory game cards by downloading the FREE set of printables at the end of the post.

Use pairs of matching pictures and turn them all face down, shuffled, on a table. Take turns choosing any two cards and turning them face up on the table. If you turn over a matching pair you keep the cards and if the pair doesn’t match, turn the cards back over until it is your turn to try again.

Encourage your child to concentrate and pay attention to where the pictures are and try to find a matching pair on each turn. 

3. Building with Construction Toys

Construction toys such as engineering blocks, a proper set of wooden blocks or Legos (shown below) should be a daily staple in your home.

Everything your child builds is a challenge because it requires thinking about what to build and how to put the pieces together to get a design that works and is functional.

Leave your child to construct freely and occasionally set a challenge and ask him to build a specific structure, with conditions. For example:

• Make two towers with a bridge joining them together
• Build a creature that stands on its own and has 3 arms.

Then watch your child wracking his brain until he finds a way to make his structure work.

• STIMULATE CREATIVITY & IMAGINATION: Kids building toy are designed as 110 piece including the 6 building...
• LEARNING BY PLAYING: The STEM building blocks Kit would help to develop the imagination and creativity which...

• Hours of educational fun: The Melissa & Doug wooden building blocks set includes 100 durable wooden blocks in...

• Features a wide range of bricks in 29 different colors, Special pieces include 2 different sets of eyes,...
• Special pieces encourage imaginative building with endless possibilities

4.  Activity Books

These activity books are really fun and develop a child’s ability to identify problems and search for information.

• Pomaska, Anna (Author)
• English (Publication Language)

• Handford, Martin (Author)

• Books, Webber (Author)

5. Following Patterns

This simple activity can be played with a set of coloured blocks, shapes or counters.

Simply make a pattern with the blocks and ask your child to continue it. Vary the pattern by changing the colours, shapes or sizes.

This activity will train your child to analyse the given information, make sense of it, recognise the pattern and re-create it.

6. Story Time Questions

Get into the habit of asking questions during your daily story time that develop higher-order thinking skills . Instead of just reading and your child passively listening, ask questions throughout, concentrating on solving problems.

Here are some examples:

• Why do you think the bear did that?
• Do you think his friend will be happy? Why?
• What would you do if you were the monkey?
• How do you think Peter can make things better with his friend?
• If the crocodile had decided not to eat the rabbit, how could the story have ended?

7. Board Games

Board games are an excellent way to develop problem-solving skills.

Start off with simple games like Ludo and Snakes and Ladders to teach the skill of following rules and moving in a logical sequence.

• Double-Header: Enjoy two classic games in Ludo and Snakes and Ladders on this double-faced game board
• Old Classic For A New Generation: Share timeless family games with a new generation of fun, dice rolling...

Card games like Go Fish are also great for teaching young children to think ahead and solve problems.

• KIDS CARD GAMES: Unleash ultimate fun with our Hoyle 6-in-1 Kids Playing Cards Multi Game Pack. Each set...
• GROWTH THROUGH PLAY: Help your children blossom with our social skills games for kids. Each of our games...

8.  Tic-Tac-Toe

This is a perfect game to teach decision-making skills , thinking before acting and weighing up the possible consequences.

Use a Tic Tac Toe Board or d raw a simple table like the one above on paper or a chalkboard.

• Wooden tic-tac-toe game board with eye-catching red, orange, blue, and green color pattern
• Includes white-framed wooden board with indented squares for mess-free play, 10 colored x and O game tiles,...

Take turns to add a nought or a cross to the table and see who can make a row of three first.

Your child will probably catch on in no time and start thinking carefully before placing their symbol. This game can also be played with coloured counters or different objects.

9. Classifying and Grouping Activities

This activity can be done with a tin of buttons or beads or even by unpacking the dishwasher. The idea is to teach the skill of classifying and categorizing information by learning with physical objects. Here are some other ideas for categorizing:

• Separate the washing – mom’s clothes, dad’s clothes, etc; or socks, tops, shorts, etc.
• Empty out the cutlery drawer for cleaning, mix all the utensils up and then sort into knives, tablespoons, teaspoons, etc.
• Classify and sort out the toys in your child’s bedroom together – all books, construction toys, soft toys, etc.
• Play category games .

Here are more button activities for kids .

10. Building a Maze

This activity is lots of fun and suitable for any age. It is also going to be way more fun than doing a maze in an activity book, especially for younger children.

Draw a big maze on the paving with sidewalk chalk . Make passages, including one or two that end in a dead-end. Teach your child to find her way out .

• Non-Toxic Formula: Our sidewalk chalk is specially formulated to minimize chalk dust and is safe for indoor...
• Convenient Packaging: Comes in a 20-piece plastic bucket with a lid and handle for easy transport and storage.

As your child gets better at figuring out a route and finding the way out, make the maze more complex and add more dead-end passages.

If you’d like to receive a FREE set of fun printables, games and rhymes for preschoolers, as well as regular emails with useful tips and play-based activity ideas, join either the Newsletter for Parents or the Newsletter for Preschool Teachers below.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Friday 3rd of June 2022

hi maam , This Is Uma from India,Can i get this in pdf format or a book. Thank You

Tanja Mcilroy

Monday 6th of June 2022

Hi Uma, thanks for your message. These articles are not available in PDF, but you are welcome to copy and paste them from the website, as long as you add the reference: https://empoweredparents.co/problem-solving-activities-preschoolers/ Thanks for reading!

Wednesday 20th of May 2020

Very very useful content. Good work. Thank you.

Friday 22nd of May 2020

Thanks Ann.

Tuesday 19th of May 2020

Would like to download the free activity pack please.

Hi Kelly, Please download the activity pack on this page: www.empoweredparents.co

17 Fun Problem Solving Activities for Kids

There might be affiliate links on this page, which means we get a small commission of anything you buy. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Please do your own research before making any online purchase.

As a child, I would spend hours putting together puzzles… whether it was 3-D puzzles or figuring out a crossword. I also loved it when teachers would give the class an open-ended question and we had to work in groups to figure out the answer in our own way.

Even something as simple as playing checkers with my brothers gave me the chance to use strategy as a way to win the game. I honestly believe that it’s so important for kids to solve problems at a young age, as it helps them think critically and outside the box.

Table of Contents

So, Why Is It Important To Teach Kids Problem Solving?

I think these kinds of activities are so important for kids to do because it helps them learn how to think analytically and solve problems on their own. It's a great way to get kids to use their imaginations and be creative.

Rote memorization simply does not have the same effect. This type of learning is great for learning facts like historical dates, but it’s not going to help kids figure out how events in history happened and the results.

We take these problem-solving skills into college, the workforce, and travel . My ability to problem solve since childhood has certainly got me through many sticky situations while in a new city or country.

Additionally, problem-solving helps children learn how to find creative solutions to challenges they may face both in and out of the classroom . These activities can also be fun and used in cohesion with school or playtime.

17 Fun Problem-Solving Activities for Kids

1. marble mazes.

This activity was selected because it requires them to think spatially. Spatial learning will benefit kids when they start driving, riding a bike, playing sports,etc.

To do this activity in its simplest form, you will need a piece of paper, a pencil, and some marbles. First, draw a maze on a piece of paper using a pencil.

Make sure to create a start and finish point. Then, place the marbles at the start of the maze. The goal is to get the marbles from the start to the finish by tilting the paper and using gravity to guide the marbles through the maze.

Another example of a marble maze can involve using toilet paper rolls taped together to create a three-dimensional maze. The larger the maze, the harder you can make it.

Check Price on Amazon!

If you are not into the DIY method, you can always buy a toy maze on Amazon. A good 48 piece puzzle is the Melissa & Doug Underwater Ocean Floor puzzle.

2. The Tower Challenge

Building a tower gives kids the chance to think about gravity, structure, and balance.

To do this activity, you will need some building materials like legos, blocks, or even toilet paper rolls. The challenge is to see how high they can stack the materials without the tower toppling over.

This can be done individually or in teams. An activity like this is good for younger kids and is the building block to learning about harder topics like engineering.

3. The Egg Drop Challenge

The egg drop challenge helps kids learn how to engineer a solution that prevents something from breaking. It requires them to think critically about which materials will best protect something fragile like an egg when dropped from a height.

To do this activity, you will need some eggs and various materials such as straws, cotton balls, bubble wrap, etc. The goal is to construct a device that will protect an egg from breaking upon impact.

This can be done individually or in teams . Teams can even have a competition for the best egg drop device.

As children begin handling, shopping for, and cooking their own food, activities like this will help them understand how to handle breakable items like bottles, eggs, delicate fruit,.etc. Ideally, this is best for age groups 8 and up.

4. The Penny Drop Challenge

This activity was selected because it requires kids to think about physics and how different materials affect sound.

To do this activity, you will need a penny ( or another coin), a cup, and various materials such as paper towels, cotton balls, etc.

The goal is to drop the penny into the cup without making any noise. Begin by placing different materials into the cup and then drop the penny into it. The children should also drop the penny from different heights into the same material to see if/how the impact from a higher drop affects sound.

Group kids into teams or let them try it on their own.

Kids should make note of what type of sounds are made when the penny hits different materials. This is a great activity for kids who are interested in science and physics.

5. The Balloon Race Challenge

This activity was selected because it helps kids learn about aerodynamics and Bernoulli’s principle . It also requires them to think creatively about how to design a balloon-powered vehicle.

To do this activity, you will need balloons, straws, masking tape, and markers. The goal is to design a balloon-powered vehicle that can travel a distance of at least 10 feet. Kids can begin this activity by sketching out their designs on paper.

After they have a basic design, they can begin building their vehicle from various materials. Then kids can explain why they think the balloon traveled or did not travel as far as it did.

6. The Marshmallow Challenge

Marshmallows are not only delicious, but they are also soft and malleable. So kids can have fun using it for some construction projects.

This activity was selected because it requires kids to think creatively about how to build a structure using limited materials. It also helps them learn about engineering and work as a team.

To do this activity, you will need marshmallows and spaghetti noodles. The goal is to build the tallest free-standing structure possible using only marshmallows and spaghetti noodles. If you don't have spaghetti noodles, use something similar like pretzel sticks.

You may even want to establish certain rules like each team can only use a certain number of marshmallows or noodles. A time limit can also make it more fun and challenging.

For more fun activities, check out our post on problem solving exercises for team building .

7. The Balloon Pop Challenge

If you remember your childhood, you probably remember popping balloons for fun at times. But this activity is different because it requires kids to use strategy and critical thinking.

This activity was selected because it helps kids learn about patterns and problem-solving. It is also a lot of fun for kids who like popping balloons. The goal is to create a device that will allow them to pop a balloon without using their hands.

To do this activity, you will need balloons and various materials such as straws, string, paper clips, etc.

8. Picture Pieces Puzzle Game

As mentioned earlier, puzzles are a great pastime – especially in childhood. Kids must think critically about how to put the pieces together to create a certain picture. It also helps them learn about shapes, colors, and other concepts.

You can take a medium to large picture and cut it into pieces. If you have younger kids, you may want to make the pieces larger. However, if you have kids closer to the 8-11 age range, you should be able to provide a challenge and make the pieces smaller.

9. Copy the Block Model

For this challenge, you can build a model out of blocks for the kids to copy. Put kids into groups and make sure each group has the same number of blocks you used for your model.

Make your model block as simple or complex as needed for your child's age group.

Set a time limit and make sure each group starts at the same time.

10. Team Scavenger Hunt

A scavenger hunt is great for kids because they have to search for items and use investigative skills. It is also a lot of fun and can be done both indoors and outdoors .

To do this activity, you will need to create a list of items for the kids to find. The items can be anything from common household items to things you would find outside.

These types of activities can also revolve around a theme like a holiday, movie, or book. For example, if the kids are fans of “Harry Potter” you can make a list of items to find that are related to the movie.

11. Obstacle Course

This activity requires kids to think creatively about how to get from one point to another while maneuvering around obstacles. If you have outdoor space, this can be done with common objects such as hula hoops, cones, etc.

If you don't have access to an outdoor space, you can use common household items to create an indoor obstacle course. For example, you can use chairs, blankets, pillows, etc.

Begin by setting up the course and then timing each child as they complete it. You can also have them race against each other to make it more fun.

Obstacle courses are also great because kids get to be physically active while they are thinking critically.

12. Reading Storybooks

There are many great benefits for kids that read storybooks.  One of the excellent benefits is the ability to problem-solve.  When they read the stories in the books, they see scenarios that cause them to be attached to the various characters they read about. 

So, when they encounter a real-life problem, it is often productive to ask a child how their favorite character would solve that problem.  Your kids can also be encouraged to come up with various options and possible outcomes for some of the situations they may encounter. 

This not only helps kids solve various problems but become more independent as well. 

13. Ask Them Open-Ended Questions

A good way to improve a child's ability to think critically and creatively and improve their ability to solve problems is by asking open-ended questions.  It also helps them to develop healthy personalities .

There are no right or wrong answers to these questions.  In addition, the solution requires more than a simple “yes” or “no” answer.  Furthermore, it allows kids to put some extra thought into their responses. 

Here are some examples of open-ended questions you may want to ask. 

• What did this experience teach you?
• Was this easy?  What was easy about it?
• What this difficult?  What is complicated about it?
• What may happen next in this situation?
• How did you come to this solution?
• What, if anything, would you do differently next time?
• What can we do to make things more fun next time?

14. Build Various Structures with Toys

Whether wooden blocks, LEGO blocks, or engineering blocks… giving your kid blocks to build whatever their minds can dream up is fun.  In addition, it requires them to think about how they will make a structure, put the pieces together, and creatively ensure the building's function and design. 

You may also want to challenge them to build something more complicated and watch them use their brain power to make it happen. 

15. Acting Out Skits

Impromptu activities like acting out skits help kids identify problems, develop solutions, and execute them.  This process works with multiple kids being divided into teams. 

First, you will want to write down different situations, such as resolving a disagreement between siblings or dealing with bullying on the playground on a piece of paper.  Second, you will fold the paper and place it in a hat or bowl.  

Third, each team will pick a scenario out of the hat.  Finally, you can give the kids a few minutes to discuss their solution and act out. 

16. Solving Moral Dilemmas   

In this simple game, you will help your kids solve simple dilemmas they may find themselves in.  You could write down a situation your child may find themselves in and help them learn the moral way to solve the problem.   

For instance, “The cashier gave them an additional $5 change back on my purchase.  What should they do?”  Another scenario could be, “I saw my friend cheating on a test.  Should I tell on them or let it go?”  A third one could be, “I caught my friends stealing some gum from the store.  What should I do?” 

After writing down the dilemmas and placing them in a bowl, get each child to select one and read it aloud.  Finally, you will help them devise morally correct solutions to the moral dilemma. 

17. Animal Pairing Game  

This is a fun and creative game to help your kids with focus, critical thinking, and team building skills .  In addition, this activity requires an even number of players to participate (4, 6, 8, etc.) 

Before starting the game, you will want to write the names of different animals twice, each on a separate slip of paper.  Then pass out the slips of paper to each individual or team member, instructing them not to share with anyone the name of the animal they received. 

Then the children will perform activities the animals might do without talking or making sounds.  Some of these activities might include:

• The way the animal cleans or grooms itself
• The way the animal sleeps
• The way the animal fights
• The way the animal eats or drinks
• The way the animal walks or runs

The goal is for each child to successfully pair up with the other child who has selected the same animal.

How Problem Solving in Childhood Helps in Adulthood

Children are not born with problem-solving skills. It is something that needs to be learned and developed over time .

From babies who learn how to communicate their needs to toddlers who figure out how to get what they want, to children who are starting to understand the consequences of their actions – problem-solving is a process that begins in childhood and continues into adulthood.

Some of the benefits of teaching problem-solving skills to children include:

• Improved critical thinking skills
• Better decision-making skills
• Enhanced creativity
• Improved communication and collaboration skills
• Increased confidence

There are many ways to teach problem-solving skills to children. The activities mentioned above are just a few examples. It is important to find activities that are appropriate for the age and abilities of the child.

With practice, children will develop these skills and be better prepared to face challenges in both childhood and adulthood.

Final Thoughts About Fun Problem Solving Activities For Kids

These are just a few ideas to get you started on teaching your child crucial problem solving skills. Perhaps they’ve inspired to come with some of your own, or seek out others? The important thing is to make sure the activity is age-appropriate and challenging enough to engage the kids.

Problem-solving skills are important for kids to learn because they can be applied to various situations in life. These skills also promote critical thinking, which is an important life skill.

There are many other problem-solving activities for kids out there. In time, you’ll find the ones that work best for your child.  And be sure not to forget about your own needs and self-improvement, both of which will make you a better parent and mentor. Here are some useful activities for adults to get your started.

Finally, if you want to level up your parenting skills, then check out this resource that will show you how to get your kids to listen WITHOUT yelling, nagging, or losing control .

Cool Kindergarten

Advertisement

What's Next

learn with math videos

play more games

Making 10 and problem solving games.

This set of making 10  and  problem solving online activities focuses on the following foundational skills:

• Missing Addends
• Solving for 10
• Numbers to 100 on a Hundreds Chart
• Using Data in Categories
• Number Patterns

This set focuses on solving problems in multiple ways or getting more than one answer or solution.

Games linked from this page practice Common Core Standards: K.MD.3,   K.OA.3 ,  K.OA.4 ,  K.CC.5 ,  K.CC.6

The Best Logic Games for Kindergarten

Have you ever used logic games and puzzles in your kindergarten classroom? There are many ways that you can use these activities in your daily routine!  In this post, I’m sharing some of my favorite logic games for kindergarten!  

What Are Logic Games?

Logic games are activities that require students to use critical thinking skills in order to solve a puzzle or problem.  Logic games often include patterns, sequences, or some other connection that students need to identify in order to find the solution. There are printable logic puzzles and games that you can use in the classroom, but I’m partial to hands-on logic board games! 

*Please note the Amazon links included in this post are affiliate links which means I may earn a small commission if you choose to purchase using the links. These commissions help keep the blog up and running.

Benefits of Using Logic Games in Kindergarten

Logic games can be such a helpful learning tool in the kindergarten classroom!  There are many reasons why you should have a few of these trusty games in your teacher toolbox.

First, logic games are one of my favorite low-prep activities for kindergarten! Everything you need is included in the box, including visual directions that even the youngest students can understand.  If you think your students might have trouble navigating the activity for the first time, you can demonstrate it in front of the class first.  It usually takes just a few minutes for students to get the hang of the activity!

Another benefit of logic games is that they are very versatile!  You can add this low-prep learning activity to any part of your daily routine.  You could use a logic game as one of your center rotations. It could also be used as an option for fast finishers!  Logic puzzles could also be used as a soft-start activity option for your classroom's morning routine . There are so many possibilities!

Practice Problem-Solving

In a previous post, I talked about how important it is for kindergarteners to practice problem-solving skills in the classroom .  Logic puzzles are a great way for students to do this!  The answers aren’t readily apparent and students have to rely on their own reasoning skills to come up with a solution.

Build Confidence

As students work hard to solve the problem in a logic game, it gives them the opportunity to persevere!  Working hard on a puzzle takes mental stamina, which needs to be exercised regularly.  As students experience success with logic games, they are able to build their confidence.

What I love about logic puzzles is that some students really excel in this area!  Students don’t have to be strong with words or numbers in order to come up with a solution. It’s always amazing to see students light up with confidence when they are able to solve these logic games!

Three of the Best Logic Games for Kindergarten

One of my favorite brands of logic games for kindergarten is Smart Games.  (I am not an affiliate of their company, just a very happy customer!) What I love about their games is that the format for each game is very similar.  Students always know that they should look for the small booklet that comes with the activity.  The routine is the same, but each game is challenging in a different way.

1. Color Code

The first of my favorite logic board games is Color Code . This activity challenges students’ visual reasoning skills as they try to build a shape shown in the booklet.  Each game piece is a clear square with a colorful shape.  As students create a stack of these clear pieces, they can attempt to match the target shape.

The puzzles progress from “Starter” to “Master,” so this activity will be engaging for all of the students (and even adult visitors) in your classroom.  

Trucky 3 is another fun activity for young students!  This adorable logic game uses small dump trucks with transparent beds.  Each page of the game booklet shows which truck students should use and which pieces they will need to fit inside the bed of the truck. The only rule is that the pieces have to sit flush with the top of the truck bed.  

Students will rearrange the pieces until they are able to find the correct configuration (there is only one solution to each puzzle).  Once students think they have it figured out, they can turn the page to check their work!

One thing I love about this logic game is that students are also using their fine motor skills as they pick up, turn, and place the blocks. Any time students can work on their pincer grasp,  in-hand manipulation, and hand-eye coordination, I’m all for it!

3. Three Little Piggies

Finally, Three Little Piggies is another fun logic game to include in your classroom.  I always liked to have this game available for fast finishers during our fairy tale unit! 

The game comes with three pig playing pieces, a wolf, and then the pigs’ three houses.  Each house is attached to a lawn of a different shape to create a puzzle piece of sorts.  The goal of the puzzle is to get the houses to fit on the game board with the animals.

This game actually has two different versions.  The first version uses only the pigs. Students are trying to place the puzzle pieces so that all of the pigs can play outside of their houses.  In the second version, students are placing the houses on top of the pigs to protect them from the wolf.

Just like the other puzzles, there is only one solution for each challenge in the booklet.  Students can turn the page to check their work or to find the answer if they are stumped.

Kindergarten Logic Games: A Closer Look

If you’d like to take a closer look at these games and hear more about how I used them in my classroom, check out this video!

Save These Logic Game Ideas for Kindergarten

If you are short on time but want to find these games later, just save this post! You can add the pin below to your favorite teaching board on Pinterest.  You’ll be able to quickly find these logic game ideas when you’re looking for a low prep activity to use in your classroom.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

QUICK LINKS

Atlas Mission

Navigate to...

5 kindergarten problem solving activities your kid will love.

Want to Improve Your Child's Problem Solving Skills?

Enroll your child for the Atlas Mission – the ultimate learning companion for kids.

Ohhh, problem solving skills. It’s one of those, you know, really, super, important things that all kids are supposed to be learning, or else, they are doomed for life.

I mean, at thirty-one years old I still haven’t figured out how to keep things from spilling everywhere or how to make sure evil Legos aren’t out and about just waiting to deal those excruciating blows to my feet.

I know you’ve been there – i.e. stepped on a car and almost broke your back – and thought about throwing all the darned things in the trash.

But before you do that, here are 5 kindergarten problem solving activities for kids that will make you feel a little better about keeping them around… at least for a little bit longer.

1. Free Building Play

So after I resist the urge to whip into a crazy, toy-trashing whirlwind come across toys the kids have left out, I put them in a building box.

If you don’t have something similar, you can just let your little darling gather up any and all safe objects around the house he would like to use to build something with.

It can be anything. We have had conglomerations of Legos, boxes, wheels/fixtures from random, old pieces of furniture, PVC piping, etc. The point here is to foster open-mindedness… to see random objects in new ways.

Don’t be afraid to frame the problem for him to stretch those skills – “Oh, you built a house?  Wow!  What if more people needed to fit in it?” Or, just thinking out loud here, “What if Mommy needs a spa room?”

Pro Tip: Help Your Child Become Better at Problem Solving

Enroll your child for the Atlas Mission and let your child play with this award-winning educational program. Your child will become better at problem solving without even realizing it!

2. Rolling Dice

One of my other favorite things to step on in dark hallways.

Kids love to roll dice. I would just feel like a jerk if I didn’t say there are a ton of games kids make up and play with dice that are great for problem solving and general math skills, so let them play freely with them.

Here is one of the best ones I’ve found specifically for problem solving skills.

First, write down a few categories of things – colors, animals, places, people, etc. – on some index cards, or if you are always missing cool school supplies like index cards, card-sized pieces of paper will do just fine. Put them in stack face-down between you and your kid.

Now, for the fun part! Tell your kid to draw a card and roll the die – probably just one die for this game… really… you don’t want any nervous breakdowns here.

He has to think of that number of things that fit into the category he drew. So if he drew the card “Animals” and rolled a three, he might say, “hippo, dog, and rooster.”

This encourages a different kind of open-mindedness that is solution-oriented, rather than going in all directions.

3. Build a Racetrack

Yep, I know. It’s always right in the middle of the way, right? Well, stuff down that gut reaction to “accidentally” knock it over (totally kidding, I know you would never do that, right? Right? :-)), and let them build it (safely) however they want.

After they are done racing their cars down it for a bit, encourage them to actually talk about what they like and dislike about the track.

And then let them build it again… and again. Wait! Don’t run yet – there’s a good reason, promise!  While building open-mindedness is a vital first step, experimentation is just as important.

This is where they learn to make predictions and test them to make adjustments.

4. Make a Mosaic

If your brain is frazzled just reading about the previous three activities, this one’s for you! If you already have some of those math pattern/shape blocks, this is the easiest (though it might not get the Legos off the floor, sorry!).

Just give your little one a prompt for a picture, and let her go to town creating it with the pattern blocks. Boats, flowers, houses, and monsters are all good prompts for kindergarteners.

If you don’t have pattern blocks or you want a more permanent creation, you can cut shapes out of construction paper. If you can match the typical pattern block color/shape, it will familiarize your kid with them if she hasn’t seen them in school yet.

Then, go on the same way, letting her create to her heart’s content, finishing with glue if she wishes!

This is about helping her understand that not only are there multiple options to consider when solving a problem, but also sometimes there are actually multiple possible solutions.

5. Roleplaying

Don’t neglect the need to practice problem solving skills for social situations. Most of the problems adults deal with are ones that involve some social aspect, after all. So bust out those costumes (or sheets, old curtains, whatever), and do some roleplaying.

If your kid has a bent for imaginative play, you might be able to just follow along with her plot and ask questions at the right moments, but otherwise, you might have to search your inner-child for a problem that your kid would be interested in enough to make the play effective.

“I want to have a tea party for all the little children in the land, but I don’t know how to do it. What do you think we should do first?”

“There’s a dragon in a cave nearby, and everyone is afraid he might hurt them. What do you think we should do first?”

What? My inner-child is pretty typical, don’t judge!

So put your mind (and feet!) at rest – these kindergarten problem solving activities can keep kids thinking for hours over a variety of different problem solving situations.

It’s even more awesome if brothers, sisters, or friends can participate, so you can just keep an ear on things… while eating chocolate away from prying eyes. (Hey! A problem I did solve!)

Facebook Pinterest Google+

Related Articles

8 Problem Solving Games to Play With Your Preschooler

5 Awesome Kindergarten Problem Solving Games your Child Will Love

10 Kindergarten Problem Solving Skills for your Little Champ

More Preschool and Kindergarten Problem Solving Articles...

Popular Articles

10 Sneaky Ways to Trick Your Kids into Learning Math

First Steps Towards Coding for Preschoolers: Understanding Instructions

5 Ways to Kill Your Child’s Creativity

10 Ways to Supercharge Your Child’s Science Skills

About the Author

Danielle Rhymes creates educational content for the Atlas Mission . She is a stay-at-home mom who is passionate about education. When not chasing down or instilling life lessons in little ones, she also enjoys crocheting, chocolate, and Good Housekeeping.

Liked this article? Don’t miss our next one.

Our blog publishes free tips for busy parents like you to help you improve your child’s Reading, Math, Science and 21st century skills.

Follow us and get weekly updates containing some of our most exclusive content.

• Grades 6-12
• School Leaders

FREE Poetry Worksheet Bundle! Perfect for National Poetry Month.

25 Kindergarten STEM Challenges That Little Ones Will Love

They’re never too young to create and explore!

STEM challenges are such a fun way for kids to explore how the world works. By building and creating, they learn problem-solving skills and get hands-on experience with physics, engineering, and more. These kindergarten STEM challenges prove that even little ones have plenty of ingenuity and inspiration.

The best part? These challenges are so easy to set up. They require only basic supplies, like wood craft sticks, pipe cleaners, or blocks. Just post one of these kindergarten STEM challenges on your whiteboard, explain the requirements, pass out the supplies, and watch young minds grow!

Want this entire set of STEM challenges in one easy document? Get your free PowerPoint or Google Slides bundle of these first grade STEM challenges by submitting your email here, so you’ll always have the challenges available.

Just a heads up, WeAreTeachers may collect a share of sales from the links on this page. We only recommend items our team loves!

25 Kindergarten STEM Challenges

Fold a sheet of paper to make a column that supports the most books..

Use pipe cleaners to make a new kind of bubble wand.

• Zees 1000 Pipe Cleaners in Assorted Colors

Take a walk outside and find at least five items to use as paintbrushes.

Use pool noodles cut in half lengthwise to make a toy car race track that includes a ramp. You can also use blocks and masking tape.

Build the tallest tower you can using wood craft sticks and clothespins.

• Whitmore 100 Natural Wood Clothespins
• Pepperell 1000 Natural Wood Craft Sticks

Mix red, blue, and yellow finger paints to make as many new colors as you can.

Use toothpicks and marshmallows to make as many different shapes as possible.

• 1000 Count Natural Bamboo Toothpicks

Use one can of shaving cream to build the tallest structure you can.

Stack 15 plastic cups into the tallest tower possible.

• Clear Disposable Plastic Cups, 500 Pack

Gather twigs outside and use them to build a house for one of the Three Little Pigs.

Use 5 pipe cleaners to make the longest chain you can. The chain must be able to hold a small cup of jellybeans.

Build the tallest tower possible using buttons and Play-Doh.

Use a cardboard box, wood craft sticks, construction paper, and supplies like scissors and glue to build a monster trap.

Make a domino chain reaction that includes two curves.

• Lewo 1000 Pcs Wood Dominoes Set

Use newspapers and masking tape to make a tent for a stuffed animal.

Build a bridge that can hold 100 pennies using wood craft sticks and toilet paper tubes.

Scoop up one cup of random LEGO bricks and use it to make a new kind of animal.

Use plastic straws and masking tape to build the tallest possible tower.

• TOMNK 500 Multicolored Plastic Drinking Straws
• Lichamp 10-Pack of Masking Tape 55 Yard Rolls

Design a repeating pattern necklace from Cheerios and colored beads.

Find three different things to fill plastic eggs to make them sink to the bottom of a tub of water.

Make a snowflake from toothpicks and mini marshmallows.

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom! Use blocks and wood craft sticks to make a coconut tree that holds as many alphabet magnets or beads as possible.

Construct a house from drinking straws and Play-Doh. You can cut the straws if you like.

Build a fence for toy animals using wood craft sticks and Play-Doh.

100 Day Challenge! Use 100 of something (blocks, LEGO bricks, pipe cleaners, etc.) to make a creation that celebrates your 100th day of school.

Loved these kindergarten grade STEM challenges? Check out the 23 Best Kindergarten Science Projects and Activities .

Plus, 50 easy science experiments kids can do with stuff you already have ..

Get My STEM Challenges Now!

You Might Also Like

25 First Grade STEM Challenges To Engage Young Learners

All the best ways to have fun with science! Continue Reading

Copyright © 2023. All rights reserved. 5335 Gate Parkway, Jacksonville, FL 32256

• Administrator
• Teacher How To's
• How It works
• All Worksheets
• Math Worksheets
• ELA Worksheets

Word Problems Games for Kindergarten

“All work and no play make Jack a dull boy.” Considering this true to every bit, it’s imperative to add games to your kid's learning process. They get the chance to imply the gained knowledge to solve the word problems. SplashLearn's imaginative games enrich the developmental skills ... Read more of your kid.

CONTENT TYPE

• Lesson Plans
• Number Sense (177)
• Number Recognition (23)
• Number Recognition Within 5 (9)
• Number Recognition Within 10 (8)
• Number Recognition Within 20 (6)
• Number Sequence (38)
• Number Sequence Within 5 (15)
• Number Sequence Within 10 (18)
• Number Sequence Within 20 (5)
• Counting (69)
• Counting Objects Within 5 (26)
• Counting Objects Within 10 (40)
• Counting Objects Within 20 (3)
• Writing Numbers (20)
• Writing Numbers Within 5 (5)
• Writing Numbers Within 10 (5)
• Writing Numbers Within 20 (10)
• Compare and Order Numbers (19)
• Compare Numbers (16)
• Compare Numbers within 10 (16)
• Compare Objects within 10 (6)
• Order Numbers (3)
• Order Numbers within 10 (3)
• Place Value (12)
• Read and Write Numbers (12)
• Identify Teen Numbers (12)
• Addition (62)
• Embedded Numbers (3)
• Addition Sentences (10)
• Addition Sentence within 5 (5)
• Addition Sentence within 10 (5)
• Addition Strategies (33)
• Addition Strategies within 10 (24)
• Count All to Add (10)
• Count All to add within 5 (5)
• Count All to add within 10 (5)
• Compose and Decompose Numbers (14)
• Addition Strategies within 20 (9)
• Anchor 5 and 10 (9)
• Addition Facts (16)
• Fluently Add within 10 (16)
• Subtraction (36)
• Subtraction Sentences (10)
• Subtraction Sentences within 5 (5)
• Subtraction Sentences within 10 (5)
• Subtract with Pictures (16)
• Subtract with Pictures within 5 (8)
• Subtract with Pictures within 10 (8)
• Subtraction Facts (10)
• Fluently Subtract within 10 (10)
• Geometry (36)
• Positional Words (5)
• Shapes (31)
• 2d Shapes (16)
• Attributes of 2D shapes (7)
• Sort 2D shapes (4)
• 3d Shapes (4)
• Flat and Solid Shapes (11)
• Match 2D Shapes (9)
• Measurement (22)
• Comparing Measurements (11)
• Compare Weights (3)
• Compare Lengths (4)
• Compare Heights (4)
• Data Handling (11)
• Organize and Interpret Data (6)
• Sort Objects (5)
• Word Problems (11)
• Addition and Subtraction Word Problems (11)
• Addition Word Problems (4)
• Addition Word Problems within 10 (4)
• Subtraction Word Problems (2)
• Subtraction Word Problems within 10 (2)
• ELA (1,055)
• Reading (1,015)
• Phonics (1,015)
• Alphabet (111)
• Letter A (5)
• Letter B (5)
• Letter C (5)
• Letter D (5)
• Letter E (5)
• Letter F (5)
• Letter G (5)
• Letter H (5)
• Letter I (5)
• Letter J (5)
• Letter K (5)
• Letter L (5)
• Letter M (5)
• Letter N (5)
• Letter O (5)
• Letter P (5)
• Letter Q (5)
• Letter R (5)
• Letter S (5)
• Letter T (5)
• Letter U (5)
• Letter V (5)
• Letter W (5)
• Letter X (5)
• Letter Y (5)
• Letter Z (5)
• Letter Sounds (130)
• Letter Sound A (5)
• Letter Sound B (5)
• Letter Sound C (5)
• Letter Sound D (5)
• Letter Sound E (5)
• Letter Sound F (5)
• Letter Sound G (5)
• Letter Sound H (5)
• Letter Sound I (5)
• Letter Sound J (5)
• Letter Sound K (5)
• Letter Sound L (5)
• Letter Sound M (5)
• Letter Sound N (5)
• Letter Sound O (5)
• Letter Sound P (5)
• Letter Sound Q (5)
• Letter Sound R (5)
• Letter Sound S (5)
• Letter Sound T (5)
• Letter Sound U (5)
• Letter Sound V (5)
• Letter Sound W (5)
• Letter Sound X (5)
• Letter Sound Y (5)
• Letter Sound Z (5)
• Letter Recognition (97)
• Lowercase Letters (26)
• Uppercase Letters (26)
• Matching Lowercase and Uppercase Letters (45)
• Match Aa - Dd (7)
• Match Ee - Gg (5)
• Match Hh - Kk (7)
• Match Ll - Pp (9)
• Match Qq - Ss (5)
• Match Tt - Vv (5)
• Match Ww - Zz (7)
• Vowels (81)
• Short Vowel Sounds (81)
• Short A Vowel Sound (59)
• Short E Vowel Sound (26)
• Short I Vowel Sound (59)
• Short O Vowel Sound (44)
• Short U Vowel Sound (24)
• Blending (358)
• CCVC Words (19)
• CVC Words (271)
• CVCC Words (34)
• Beginning Blending (34)
• Consonant Digraphs (8)
• Digraph CH (3)
• Digraph PH (2)
• Digraph SH (3)
• Digraph TH (2)
• Digraph WH (2)
• Double Consonants (8)
• FF Words (3)
• LL Words (3)
• SS Words (3)
• ZZ Words (3)
• Rhyming Words (18)
• Sight Words (375)
• Dolch Sight Words (324)
• Fry Sight Words (237)
• Writing (66)
• Handwriting (46)
• Letter Tracing (46)
• Letter Tracing A (3)
• Letter Tracing B (3)
• Letter Tracing C (3)
• Letter Tracing D (3)
• Letter Tracing E (3)
• Letter Tracing F (3)
• Letter Tracing G (3)
• Letter Tracing H (3)
• Letter Tracing I (3)
• Letter Tracing J (3)
• Letter Tracing K (3)
• Letter Tracing L (3)
• Letter Tracing M (3)
• Letter Tracing N (3)
• Letter Tracing O (3)
• Letter Tracing P (3)
• Letter Tracing Q (3)
• Letter Tracing R (3)
• Letter Tracing S (3)
• Letter Tracing T (3)
• Letter Tracing U (3)
• Letter Tracing V (3)
• Letter Tracing W (3)
• Letter Tracing X (3)
• Letter Tracing Y (3)
• Letter Tracing Z (3)
• Writing Sight Words (20)
• General Knowledge (293)
• Vegetables (19)
• Fruits (24)
• Animals (58)
• Seasonal (28)
• Christmas (12)
• Kitchen (11)
• Musical Instruments (30)
• Art & Creativity (235)
• Coloring (181)
• Animals (32)
• Rhymes (25)
• Stories (10)
• Logic & Thinking (11)
• Motor Skills (15)

Addition and Subtraction Word Problems Games

Represent 'Take Apart' Scenarios Game

Kids must represent 'Take Apart' scenarios to practice subtraction.

Solve 'Add To' Scenarios Game

Add more arrows to your child’s math quiver by solving 'Add To' scenarios.

Solve 'Take Apart' Scenarios Game

Take the pressure off by simplifying subtraction by solving 'Take Apart' scenarios.

Represent 'Add To' Scenarios Game

Learn to solve math problems through our 'Represent 'Add To' Scenarios' game.

All Word Problems Games

Adding One by Making a Model Game

Treat yourself to an immersive learning experience with our 'Adding One by Making a Model' game.

Adding Within 5 by Making a Model Game

Add more arrows to your child’s math quiver by adding within 5 by making a model.

Model and Add (Within 10) Game

Unearth the wisdom of mathematics by learning how to model and add (within 10).

Word Problems: Subtracting One Game

Sharpen your math skills with the 'Word Problems: Subtracting One' game.

Word Problems: Subtracting Within 10 Game

Enjoy the marvel of math-multiverse by practicing to solve word problems on subtracting within 10.

Represent 'Put Together' Scenarios Game

Have your own math-themed party by learning how to represent 'Put Together' scenarios.

Solve 'Put Together' Scenarios Game

Shine bright in the math world by learning how to solve 'Put Together' scenarios.

Carve the niche for your toddler’s problem-solving ability while having fun. When you intend to enhance his decision-making, analyzing powers and confidence without overstressing him, adding games to his regular curriculum can much help achieve this motive. 

Learn to Handle Word Problems With Curriculum-aligned Whimsical Games

Word problem is a sentence-based problem with some data to be solved with a mathematical calculation. Word problems also familiarize kids with mathematical language. A word problem not only encourages thought-provoking skills but also improves reading, all in one go. 

Say, for instance, “There are 3 brown horses and 1 grey horse. How many horses are there in all?” When kindergarteners come across such problems, they learn to analyze the question and information and thus evaluate the answer accurately.

Enjoy the Interactive Games Online

• Adding one by making a model - Enrich your child’s problem-solving abilities with this challenging game that has 10-frames as a visual to get the sum from a set of problems in addition.
• Adding within 5 by making a model - Boosts your kids’ understanding of word problems with a set of “put together” scenarios and find the solution of the set of problems using a 10-frame.
• Model and add (within 10) -Practice the concepts in a fun way for overcoming the struggles with addition and master the art to apply the knowledge in the real world.
• Word problems: subtracting one - This educational fun game is about solving problems using pictures to get the unknown difference and choose the correct answer option.
• Word problems: subtracting within 10 - Practice subtraction while having fun with this takeaway scenario game to deduce the final answer.

Why Do Word Problems Seem Mountainous to a Kindergartener

The little neonates may find solving word problems quite thought-provoking. It is all about understanding the underlying challenge with the given descriptions. So, they don’t comprehend what exactly they have been asked and find the problems quite abstract. Practice with SplashLearn games can help them hone their logical skills to make word-problem look easy. 

Help Your Kindergartener Develop Foundational Skills With Precision

Besides the regular classwork decorum, playing games on SplashLearn can make their educational journey more interesting. Along with that, when you make efforts to further enrich their logical thinking in your little way, it's an added advantage for your kindergartener. 

Your interactive and interrogating and interactive conversation, active listening, encouraging them to judge and make a decision in some daily chores will enhance their reasoning power which eventually helps them solve word problems with ease and confidence.

Learning can be made quite interesting by indulging in fanciful games on SplashLearn and thus lay a strong foundation for your educational journey.

Your one stop solution for all grade learning needs.

By Audience

• Therapist Toolbox
• Teacher Toolbox
• Parent Toolbox
• Explore All

By Category

• Organization
• Impulse Control
• When Executive Function Skills Impair Handwriting
• Executive Functioning in School
• Executive Functioning Skills- Teach Planning and Prioritization
• Adults With Executive Function Disorder
• How to Teach Foresight
• Bilateral Coordination
• Hand Strengthening Activities
• What is Finger Isolation?
• Occupational Therapy at Home
• Fine Motor Skills Needed at School
• What are Fine Motor Skills
• Fine Motor Activities to Improve Open Thumb Web Space
• Indoor Toddler Activities
• Outdoor Play
• Self-Dressing
• Best Shoe Tying Tips
• Potty Training
• Cooking With Kids
• Scissor Skills
• Line Awareness
• Spatial Awareness
• Size Awareness
• Pencil Control
• Pencil Grasp
• Letter Formation
• Proprioception
• How to Create a Sensory Diet
• Visual Perception
• Eye-Hand Coordination
• How Vision Problems Affect Learning
• Vision Activities for Kids
• What is Visual Attention?
• Activities to Improve Smooth Visual Pursuits
• What is Visual Scanning
• Classroom Accommodations for Visual Impairments

Awesome Buckle Toys for Fine Motor Skills

• Free Resources
• Members Club
• Development , Executive Functioning Skills

Problem Solving Activities for Preschoolers

Colleen beck otr/l.

• by Colleen Beck OTR/L
• October 22, 2021

It can be frustrating when children act without thinking of the consequences. In this blog post, you’ll learn about the development of problem solving in specific parts of our brain, discover important aspects of executive functioning that impact problem solving abilities, how to teach problem solving to preschoolers, and problem solving activities for preschoolers and young children so they can use words instead of the preschooler’s behaviors  or tantrums.

Best of all, many of our favorite fine motor activities for preschoolers support problem solving skills in early childhood.

Problem Solving Activities for Preschoolers

Before we get into the problem solving activities for preschoolers, and specific strategies to use in early childhood, it’s important to understand the development of the problem-solving process in kids. Supporting small children by giving them the skills to be problem solvers takes time and practice. We’ll get to those specific strategies below.

But first, does this scenario sound familiar at all…

I just don’t understand why Johnny keeps throwing the ball in the house. Doesn’t he realized that he could break the window? Johnny is three and he loves to play with his tennis ball in the house. Even though I have told him over and over again that we don’t throw them in the house, I still catch him sneaking them indoors at least once a week. 

Before we can address problem solving by helping kids look at the big picture and coming up with creative solutions for problem solving issues, we need to understand what is happening developmentally. Self-reflection is a challenging cognitive skill, and for young learners! 

Let’s take a better look at the development of problem solving skills…

Development of Problem Solving Skills

It’s through play, observation of others, and practice that young learners are developing problem solving skills in early childhood .

Problem solving, rational thinking and reasoning are all skills that are controlled by a part of our brain called the prefrontal cortex. Our brains grow exponentially over the first five years of life, but not the part of our brain that helps us with critical thinking and problem solving skills. This part of our brain, called the prefrontal cortex, isn’t fully developed until we turn 25 years old! 

As babies, we are exposed every day to new experiences, but at this age we don’t comprehend how these experiences affect us and those around us. If only children could think through their problems. This resource on executive functioning skills offers more information.

Have you noticed that it can be a bit scary when teenagers get their drivers licenses? They don’t always think of “what might happen.” This is due to their prefrontal cortex not being fully developed. 

But what about our three and four year olds? We know they can count, ask questions and get the cookie off the counter in a very sneaky way when we aren’t looking. In the Early Years study of 2011 called Making decisions, Taking action , they describe the prefrontal cortex entering a rapid period of development, making critical interconnections with our limbic system. (link: )

This study states “The prefrontal cortex pathways that underlie these capacities are unique to human brains and take a long time to mature. Early connections begin in infancy. Between age 3 and 5 years, the prefrontal cortex circuits enter a rapid period of development and make critical interconnections with the limbic system. During adolescence and early adulthood, the neural pathways are refined and become more efficient.”

What is so great about this part of the brain anyway? 

As the prefrontal cortex (that is located behind out eyes) develops over the years, we are able to engage with situations differently, assessing our surroundings in a new way. As we develop these new executive functioning skills, we are able to keep ourselves safe, build friendships and become successful in our careers.

Related, these friendship activities for preschoolers offers ideas and strategies to support social emotional development.

This peer reviewed report competed by Merve Cikili Utyun, called Development Period of Prefrontal Cortex, discusses how amazing this part of our brain is, and how each of the three sections control different aspects of our functioning. It states that: 

“ PFC includes the following Broadman Areas (BA): 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 44, 45, 46, 47. “The dorsolateral frontal cortex (BA) 9/46 has been functioned in many cognitive process, including processing spatial information, monitoring and manipulation of working memory, the implementation of strategies to facilitate memory, response selection, the organization of material before encoding, and the verification and evaluation of representations that have been retrieved from long-term memory. 

The mid-ventrolateral frontal cortex (BA 47) has implicated cognitive functions, including the selection, comparison, and judgment of stimuli held in short-term and long-term memory, processing non-spatial information, task switching, reversal learning, stimulus selection, the specification of retrieval cues, and the ‘elaboration encoding’ of information into episodic memory.

BA 10, the most anterior aspect of the PFC, is a region of association cortex known to be involved in higher cognitive functions, such as planning future actions and decision-making. BAs 44 and 45, include part of the inferior frontal and these regions’ functions are language production, linguistic motor control, sequencing, planning, syntax, and phonological processing.

Finally, the orbitofrontal cortex mostly (BA 47, 10, 11, 13) in the orbitofrontal cortex has been implicated in processes that involve the motivational or emotional value of incoming information, including the representation of primary (unlearned) reinforcers such as taste, smell, and touch, the representation of learnt relationships between arbitrary neutral stimuli and rewards or punishments, and the integration of this information to guide response selection, suppression, and decision making.” 

Wow! No wonder it takes so long for this part of our brain to fully develop. Problem solving skills in preschoolers take time to develop!

When Johnny is throwing the ball inside the house, he is thinking about what is happening now, in the present. Not what has happened in the past (when he broke the window at grandmas house a year ago) or that breaking a window might happen in the future. 

What are some problem solving techniques?

Solving problems is a skill that all preschoolers need support with. This critical skill doesn’t happen overnight. It takes time and practice to become second nature.

It’s hard for us, as adults, to remember that children ages 3-5 (preschool-aged) don’t yet have the brain capacity to problem solve on their own, or remember what they learned from a situation a week ago. 

Just like when Andrew was painting at the easel and his paintbrush got stuck in the container. Instead of asking for help or trying to “unstick” the brush, he screamed.  Or when Sally and Samantha ran outside to grab the red bouncy ball, Samantha screamed when Sally grabs it first. She didn’t see the other red bouncy ball in the bucket next to the bikes. 

Try some of these problem solving activities for  kids :

Observation- Children need problem solving strategies that they can observe, and then practice in their everyday lives. Let kids see you talk through problems as you “figure out” a solution. This gives children a chance to see a problem-solving approach in real life situations. They get to see problem solving scenarios in action.

Repetition- Repetition supports brain growth in every area of development including problem solving, executive functioning, motor development, language skills and social development.

Multisensory Activities- Children learn best with multi-sensory cues, learning new skills through seeing, touching, hearing and experiencing the skills they are learning. In 2013, the US National Library of Medicine published an article titled  Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat.  stating “The prefrontal cortex acquires information from all of the senses and orchestrates thoughts and actions in order to achieve specific goals.” (link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3621648/)

Creative Activities- Solving problems is a skill that all preschoolers need support with. It’s hard for us, as adults, to remember they don’t yet have the brain capacity to problem solve on their own. The best way to teach children how to problem solve, it to create activities that support these new skills in a positive way, that their developing brain understands. This letter to future self is one activity to work on goal achievement even at a young age. Preschoolers can draw a picture of what they would like to do or be as an older child or as a teenager or adult.

Problem Solving Activities for Preschool

Here are 3 Simple Ways to Teach Preschoolers to Solve Problems

1.Teaching executive functioning and problem solving skills in everyday situations will support the growth of a child’s prefrontal cortex. For example, these activities that teach executive functioning at the beach show how much thought and preparation goes into building a simple sand castles.

• Children have to think about how much sand to use, how to keep it standing, how to prevent sand from getting into their eyes and how to create another one if the one they are building falls down.
• They must create, plan ahead, problem solve when things get tough and communicate to adults and peers for help.

What other activities does your child do on a regular basis that requires all areas of the prefrontal cortex to activate?

2.When children become upset, their emotions become so overwhelming that they can’t think. In order to calm down and problem solve, they need to access a multi sensory way to help them remember how to do that.

Soothing Sammy gives children tactile and visual cues that remind them how to calm down and problem solve in a developmentally appropriate way. They can be reminded of this positive reinforcement with two words “Sammy Time!”

By reading the book about the sweet golden retriever, who understands that everyone feels upset sometimes, children are encouraged to use all of the sensory strategies to calm down. They can talk to Sammy about what is happening and think through their problem to create a solution.

Ashlie’s four year old daughter did just this. She reports: “When Molly was having some big emotions about coloring a picture and needed to calm down, she visited Sammy and returned with a solution to the problem she came up with all on her own (well with Sammy’s help).”

Click here for more information on the Soothing Sammy resources .

3.Problem solving requires us to remember what just happened, what is happening now and what do we want to happen next. A preschoolers brain tends to blend all three of these situations together, not able to communicate any of them until prompted by an adult. And as an adult, we are left “guessing” what our children are thinking about. Visual cues are a wonderful sensory communication tool to support both children and adults in the realm of solving problems.

Using tools like “First/Then” cards to support routine and common situations like transitions and completing tasks. Using visuals clearly communicates what needs to be done, especially if using pictures of real children doing these tasks.

A Final note about problem solving skills in preschool

Solving problems are hard for young children, even teenagers, as their prefrontal cortex isn’t fully developed yet. Using multisensory teaching tools to support brain development, practicing tasks that teach executive functioning skills and using developmentally appropriate tools to help children calm down, will help even the most frustrating moments become a bit less stressful for children and adults. 

As we learn to be more patient with children, understanding that the part of their brain needed to solve problems is just beginning to develop, repeating the same directions over and over again may not be so frustrating. Our children are doing the best they can. It’s up to us to provide them with experiences to help their brains grow and develop. 

Jeana Kinne is a veteran preschool teacher and director. She has over 20 years of experience in the Early Childhood Education field. Her Bachelors Degree is in Child Development and her Masters Degree is in Early Childhood Education. She has spent over 10 years as a coach, working with Parents and Preschool Teachers, and another 10 years working with infants and toddlers with special needs. She is also the author of the “Sammy the Golden Dog” series, teaching children important skills through play.

More Posts Like This

• Development , Eye Hand Coordination , Fine Motor Skills , Visual Motor Skills

• Cooking With Kids , Executive Functioning Skills

Vegetable Quesadilla Learning with Cooking

• Occupational Therapy

Kinesthetic Learning Activities for Outside

Occupational Therapy in Schools

Quick links, sign up for the ot toolbox newsletter.

Get the latest tools and resources sent right to your inbox!

Get Connected

• Want to read the website AD-FREE?
• Want to access all of our downloads in one place?
• Want done for you therapy tools and materials

Join The OT Toolbox Member’s Club!

kindergarten problem solving

All Formats

Resource types, all resource types.

• Rating Count
• Price (Ascending)
• Price (Descending)
• Most Recent

Kindergarten problem solving

Kindergarten Math Problem Solving Prompts First Nine Weeks

Kindergarten Math Problem Solving Prompts for the Entire Year

PAPERLESS Kindergarten Math Reading Problem Solving Mysteries BUNDLE | Inference

Kindergarten Math Center - Problem Solving - Popsicle Stick Geometry

Open Ended Math Problems for Kindergarten Problem Solving

Kindergarten Math Problem Solving Prompts 2nd Nine Weeks

Kindergarten Problem Solving | 1st Grade Paperless Logic Puzzles SET 1

Kindergarten Problem Solving Prompts: Math Journals and Task Cards

Word problems - Problem Solving activities { Kindergarten , Grade 1, Grade 2 }

Resolving Conflicts - Solving Problems - Kindergarten Counseling Lesson

Kindergarten Social Emotional Lessons: Social Problem Solving Scenarios Emotions

Kindergarten Problem Solving Math Journals Bundle

Problem Solving (Common Sense) Kindergarten Discussion Transition Cards

Kindergarten Math Problem Solving Prompts 4th Nine Weeks

Kindergarten Math Problem Solving Prompts First Nine Weeks TEXAS Version

Kindergarten Math Game | Problem Solving | Word Problems

Kindergarten 1st 2nd || Logic Puzzles Hands On Problem Solving Brain Teasers

Advanced Math : Extension Problem Solving Bundle Gifted Kindergarten

Kindergarten Math Problem Solving Prompts 3rd Nine Weeks

Pentomino Puzzles for Kindergarten to 2nd Grade: Geometry & Problem Solving

Problem Solving and Innovating Kindergarten Communication of Learning Comments

• Word Document File

Ontario Kindergarten Report Card Comments Problem Solving and Innovating TERM 1

Kindergarten Problem Solving | 1st Grade Paperless Logic Puzzles SET 2

Problem Solving - Kindergarten Science NGSS

• We're hiring
• Help & FAQ
• Privacy policy
• Student privacy
• Terms of service
• Tell us what you think