Building Resilient, Problem-Solving Kids at Home

Did you know that everyday moments at home are perfect opportunities to help develop essential Executive Function skills? These skills, like managing frustration, problem-solving, and planning are key to building resilience and fostering a growth mindset.

Here’s how you can intentionally strengthen these skills while spending time together at home:

Let Mistakes Happen

This might be the hardest step of all. It’s tough to see our kids struggle, and it’s even harder when we anticipate the mess (whether it’s physical or social) and want to step in. However, allowing mistakes to happen is essential. These “messy moments” are gifts—they create opportunities for kids to flex their problem-solving muscles, which leads to greater resilience, even when we aren’t there with them.

Frame Mistakes as Problems to Solve

When a mistake happens, get curious together. Ask questions like:

• I wonder why that happened?

• Were there any warning signs?

• How can we solve this problem?

• What could you do differently next time?

Celebrate Problem Solving

When mistakes happen, it’s natural to feel frustrated. But instead of focusing on the mess, we can channel our energy into celebrating the process of problem-solving. Recognize efforts and plans for the future, as this reinforces the skills we want children to build and helps them feel confident in their ability to tackle challenges. Remember: skill-building takes time, practice, and plenty of supportive feedback. Mistakes aren’t failures—they’re opportunities for growth, and we’re right there with our kids every step of the way.

We’re in this together!