One of the most successful ways to introduce problem solving to young children is through introducing the problem through an animal story. I like to use Winnie the Pooh since he has such wisdom about how to help all the animals in the Hundred Acre Woods.

You can start the story with, “A little deer was alone in the woods and the other animals would not be his friend.”

The problem represents one of the children in the class and the children are invited to give their solutions to help the little deer. After the class mentions 4 or 5 solutions, they decide to pick two of the best solutions to use when anyone feels lonely and left out like the little deer. 90% of the time when the children give solutions they are usually telling about their own experiences.

Once they identify the two solutions the teacher can use “The Winnie the Pooh” bean bag to play a game . Present the problem to the class. Recite the two solutions. Throw the bean bag in the air and the children have to call out one of the solutions before they catch the bean bag. The children never know when the bean bag is going to be thrown to them so everyone really gets focused on the task. With younger children only use one solution.