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2nd Grade Unit 4: Problem-Solving
Your child is practicing ways to solve interpersonal problems, like when two friends want to play with the same basketball or when someone makes a mess by accident. Second graders learn to describe a problem respectfully, without using blame words such as “You always . . .” or “You never . . .” They also come up with multiple solutions for a variety of problems, including those caused by accident. Toward the end of the unit, they practice identifying what different people might want or need and selecting the best solution for different problems.
Why is it important? Research shows that children who learn the skills in this unit are more likely to:
Practice at Home
Notice and praise your child when they take steps to solve a problem. For example, when they discuss different solutions to a problem or say how they would feel and what they would want if they were in another person’s shoes. You can say, “It was great that you noticed Saya was alone and invited her to play too. I can tell you were thinking about how you would feel if you were her.”
Practice: If problems or disagreements arise— for example, between siblings or friends—remind your child to describe the problem respectfully. Ask, What’s the problem? How can you say it without blame?
Discuss: When reading books or watching a show, help your child practice thinking of several possible solutions to a problem and talk about which one could solve the problem. Which solution do you think would work better than the others? Why do you think that would work better?
