The Problem-Solving Process Essay

Introduction
In recent years, education has focused on the study of information and the ability to store and repeat information. Problem solving was limited to mathematics, and experiments were conducted in a scientific laboratory. Currently, education is the development of skills that prepare young people to find their way in the real world both outside of school and after school. Critical thinking is more than rational thinking; It is about independent thinking. This means to formulate ideas and draw conclusions. This is the discipline of analyzing and understanding the connections between ideas and openness to other points of view and opinions
Define the problem in the scenario that you have chosen

In this scenario, the parent is concerned that the child is not including all the items of the research when doing the project. The is also worried about helping the child without compromising the child self-confidence in completing the project. Another problem is that the parent seems to be confused whether to assist their child or not after seeing another parent at the grocery store buying items for the project and even taking a day off to help their child in working on the school project.
Analyze the problem in the scenario
By analyzing the scenario, we realize that today’s parents tend to assist their children or students by redesigning every aspect of their child’s life. Many modern parents closely monitor their children’s performance by revising and correcting schoolwork, engaging to teachers every day, resolving disagreements that the child encounters with peers. In both situations we see that both parents want to assist their children. In the long run, this might have a negative impact on the children’s life because they will not learn to be independent.
When the parents do the children research projects, the children will not learn and the teachers will not know where and how to help the student in their school work. Both parents’ involvement in the children’s project can become a hinderance to their success. The involvement shows how parent view learning as an end product rather than a process. They should understand that learning is not about been perfect instead it is a lifelong process that never ends even the children leave school.
The first parent notices the child omitting a few items required for the projects and wants to help so as to improve the quality of the work presentation. This is wrong because the presentation will not reflect the child’s current ability but will only show what the parent can do.
Generate options for solving the problem in the scenario

Option one: Working independently, this is the ability to work with minimal or no supervision.
Option two: Group work with peers
Option three: Let children fail early and often
Option four: Seeking a teacher’s advice

Evaluate the options for solving the problem
Working Independently
A key element of self-learning is the transfer of responsibility from the parent to the student. This means that the child will acquire an understanding of their learning, and become motivated to study and work with the structure of their learning environment. Working independently offers student’s self-control capabilities. Self-control depends on the process of setting goals for yourself. You can encourage your child to self-monitor control and self-assessment to achieve their learning objectives. Additionally, the parent should promote effective discourse on education, ask open-ended questions and easily respond to the child’s’ responses enabling reflection, problem solving and deep understanding.
Group Work with Peers
Working with peers will enable a child think independently and contribute to solving a certain task. Also, they will share different ideas that will help them tackle more complex problems. In this scenario group work help the child not to omit items or steps when working on research project thus guaranteeing better results.
Let Children Fail to Succeed
Let the child make mistakes to prove their abilities. It is good to strengthen learning and teach the child to be dynamic. The child’s failure in the school research project is an opportunity for child to embrace failure and improve their problem-solving skills. Instead of the parent solving any problem for child, like we see with the second parent doing, one should let the child fail early and regularly because for you to be successful you must fail. Parents or guardians should help their children understand that it is normal for them to get a result that is less than the perfect grade in the research project. The little and common mistakes will teach a child the consequences of their actions and the efforts one must undertake to be successful. Therefore, next time when having another project, the child will do a better job in the research project. By teaching a child that it is normal to fail as they learn from experience and improve, they become more stable and ready to solve the inevitable problems of adulthood later in life.
Put Children in Situations Where They Need to Adapt
It is likely that the world the children encounter will be the most dynamic in the history of human civilization. Preparing children for different situations and offering them new challenges prepares them for the future. Another way to help the child develop coping skills is to give them an opportunity to dream and explore themselves.
Decide on the best option for solving the problem
After analyzing and evaluating all the options, I believe the best option for the child is “Let Children Fail to Succeed”. Parents should nurture their children to become an independent learner. This process is a challenge for many parents. It is very hard to watch your child fail as you watch, while the goal is to succeed. When parents and guardians know why their children fail to succeed in school, they will be able step in and assist. Allowing the child to suffer the consequences of achieving a lesser grade will benefit the child in the future.
Implement and Reflect on Whether This Option Was the Most Effective
This is the most effective method that parents can use to their children or students. The child is encouraged to be systematic in every task they undertake the school project and not to give up until it is complete. Additionally, this option helps a child or student identify areas that are challenging to them and not to seek assistance in school. Parents should be responsible to for encouraging their children so that they can to develop academic independence and accountability. Every child should know that they are solely responsible for their own learning. Lastly, failing and learning from mistakes, can build self-awareness and become a better self-advocate. Also, the children tend to try new challenges and try new things. As good parents, one should help the children and give them the right commendations and praise and most important discuss the child’s strengths and weaknesses.
References

Arky, B. (2019). Help Kids Learn to Fail | Building Self-Esteem in Children | Child Mind Institute. Retrieved 9 September 2019, from https://childmind.org/article/how-to-help-kids-learn-to-fail/
McPeck, J. E. (2016). Critical thinking and education. Routledge.
Newman, S. (2019). How Allowing Children to Fail Helps Them Succeed.
Snyder, L. G., & Snyder, M. J. (2008). Teaching critical thinking and problem solving skills. The Journal of Research in Business Education, 50(2), 90.
Swartz, R. J., & Perkins, D. N. (2016). Teaching thinking: Issues and approaches. Routledge. Understanding your child’s challenges. (2018