As a mother/ grandmother starting Junior Problem Solvers, I’ve reflected a lot on what I want to impart in young learners today.  When raising my own kids, one of the most valuable things I did was work to foster a deep love of learning in them from a very young age. 

Through engaging their curiosity, letting them explore topics they were passionate about, and praising their efforts over achievements, I hoped to instill an enthusiasm for figuring things out themselves. While I can’t take full credit – it was very much a team effort with their father – I do think that mindset of being excited to learn and solve problems set them up well as students and now as adults.

That said, I absolutely wish I had been even more intentional about directly building problem-solving skills from a young age. The latest research shows how vital this is for setting kids up for long-term success academically, professionally and personally.

A 2021 study from MIT researchers found that “Students who engaged in problem solving showed greater STEM achievement gains, deeper content knowledge, better cognitive abilities, and higher motivation.”[1] Other work highlighting these skills translates beyond just academics.  

Dr. Suniya Luthar, a psychology professor at Arizona State University, notes “Problem-solving abilities allow kids to effectively navigate everyday challenges and be resilient in the face of obstacles – key for overall well-being.”[2] The ability to solve problems creatively is also what allows innovators and entrepreneurs to flourish.

So while a passion for learning is hugely important, combining that with a systematic approach to developing problem-solving skills is truly a game changer. This is the gap we are aiming to fill with Junior Problem Solvers.

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Sources:

[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8489593/

[2] https://www.apa.org/news/apa/2021/resilience-covid-19