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Strategic Problem-Solving: Think It Through Before You Act

Gabriel Wilensky

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ogical thinking doesn’t just help with math—it helps with life. When children learn to break problems into steps, test their ideas, and look for patterns, they build tools they’ll use everywhere. Logic teaches that even tricky situations can be approached thoughtfully. It helps kids pause, think it through, and ask, “What makes sense here?” That mindset can turn confusion into confidence.

One afternoon, my son couldn’t figure out why his homemade pulley wasn’t lifting a toy. He kept trying harder, pulling faster. I asked, “What do you think is going wrong?” He stopped, examined the setup, and adjusted the angle. Nothing. Then he shifted the spool, and the toy rose. That moment taught him something better than mechanics: that pausing to think beats rushing to fix. It was his logic, not his strength, that got the job done.

You can build this habit in everyday life. Solve riddles together, organize clutter with systems, or play strategy games that reward careful planning. When a problem shows up—whether it’s a stuck zipper or a tangled plan—ask your child what steps might help. The more they break things down, test ideas, and adjust, the more they’ll trust their mind to handle what comes.

Strategic Problem-Solving

Table of contents

TIPS

  • Encourage your child to slow down and break problems into steps.
  • Focus on thinking strategies, not just correct answers.
  • Reinforce that mistakes are part of figuring things out.

ACTIVITIES

  • Fix-It Plan: When something breaks or gets stuck, ask, “What’s the first step?” and let your child guide the repair process.
  • Logic Game: Play games that reward planning (like Sudoku, Rush Hour, or simple coding puzzles). Pause to talk through strategies.

EXAMPLE

My son’s pulley setup kept failing. Instead of rushing to help, I asked what he thought might be wrong. He adjusted the angle—and figured it out himself. It wasn’t about strength. It was about thinking.

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