(208) We Aren't Teaching Kids Actual Problem-Solving Skills (and what to do about it)

In this episode, Sara Olsher and Danielle Bettmann discuss teaching kids problem-solving skills and helping kids manage overwhelm as protective factors that help children avoid mental health crises. A few points:

• Teachers and school counselors also struggle with differentiating between a big deal and a little deal when addressing children's problems.
• Imagining the problem as a piece of paper and throwing it in the trash can is not an effective problem-solving technique for children.
• Executive function skills are necessary for effective problem solving, and assumptions that children already know how to do it can create confusion and frustration.
• Children come to adults for help because they do not know what to do, so dismissing them is not helpful.
• Teaching children alternatives, options, and how to handle problems themselves is essential for their long-term problem-solving skills.

Show Notes: https://mightyandbright.com/blogs/raising-resilience-podcast/208-problem-solving-and-overwhelm

The Raising Resilience Program: http://mightyandbright.com/mentalhealth