How to Teach Kids Problem-Solving Through Simple Games

Strategic games for building essential cognitive skills early on

In a previous article, I explored the importance of problem-solving skills for success in business and managing life's uncertainties. Today, we circle back to this topic, but with a twist:

How can we encourage this essential problem-solving skill in the youngest minds among us?

The ability to tackle complex problems isn't just a professional benefit—it's a life skill. And this skill doesn't start in boardrooms or coding schools but in the playrooms of our childhoods.

This post dives into two very simple games that promise not just fun but a solid foundation in problem-solving for the youngest kids. These games are lessons in thinking differently, creatively, and strategically.

A Brief Summary of Problem Decomposition

Complex issues cannot be solved in one go. Attempting to tackle them as a whole often leads to merely addressing a symptom rather than the root cause of the problem. The more complex the problem, the less we can rely on our intuition.

Complex problems should be broken down into smaller subproblems. We start by dividing a large problem into distinct subproblems. Each of these can then be split further into even smaller, mutually exclusive and collectively exhaustive (MECE) tasks. We continue this process until the subproblems are simple enough to be tackled independently.

Decomposing a problem requires creativity; there is no one prescribed way to segment the issue. This process can be approached in multiple ways and often taps into our intuition, and you might argue, our intelligence. But with regular practice, what initially seems complex gradually becomes a straightforward technique.

Let's now turn the attention to two simple games that offer a fun and effective way to practice this skill with children.

Game 1: The Mystery Object Hunt

How It Works:

Imagine an object somewhere in your home, and challenge your child to identify it. However, rather than guessing the object randomly, the child should ask strategic questions to gradually narrow down the options. This exercise focuses on breaking the problem (guessing the object) into smaller, more manageable subcategories.

Why It's Complex:

At first glance, guessing an object in the house might seem a trivial question. Kids often want to leap to conclusions by guessing specific items immediately:

"Is it a chair?"

"Is it a ball?"

But without a stroke of luck, pinpointing the object directly could be time-consuming and test their patience.

The Strategy:

Teach them narrow the field of possibilities. This can be achieved in various ways—for instance, by identifying the object's location (e.g., living room, kitchen), which are mutually exclusive and collectively exhaustive (MECE) categories. Determining the room first significantly reduces the number of potential objects. Further breaking it down by the type of object or its colour transforms an initially difficult task into an easier one.

Through deductive reasoning, children learn to break down broad questions like "What is an object we have at home?" into smaller, more specific inquiries that lead them to the answer like "What metal object do we have in the kitchen that is used for eating?", as described in the example below.

Alternatives:

You can introduce this game to children at a very young age and adjust it according to their development.

For younger children, you might simplify the game by reducing the range of objects they can choose from. You can use a set of objects that can be grouped by shape, color, or material.

For older children, broaden the scope of the game to include a wider array of possibilities. You could expand beyond physical objects in the home to include animals, plants, and even celestial bodies such as planets and stars. This expanded version fosters exceptional creativity and problem-solving abilities.