Problem Solving with Young Children: Building Creativity, Critical Thinking, and Resilience

by Ann Gadzikowski

Develop strategies for helping children become creative problem solvers Whether it’s building a rocket, learning to take turns, or forgetting a teaching material at home, both children and adults learn more from our mistakes than from our successes. Help children find solutions and learn to problem solve using teachable moments. Young children encounter problems, mistakes, and accidents that challenge them daily. Helping children conquer everyday frustrations fosters the creativity, critical thinking, and resilience that enables children to thrive in a formidable world. The ultimate guide to thinking on your feet, Problem Solving with Young Children will coach early childhood teachers, child care providers, and parents to develop a range of strategies to help young children become creative problem solvers,

152 pages, Paperback

Published October 4, 2022

About the author

Ann Gadzikowski is an author and educator with a passion for challenging children to think creatively and critically. Her recent book Creating a Beautiful Mess: Ten Essential Play Experiences for a Joyous Childhood won gold in the National Parenting Publications Awards. A graduate of the Erikson Institute, Ann has more than twenty-five years of experience as a teacher and director of early childhood programs. She is the author of curriculum books, teaching guides, classroom readers, and numerous publications for parents of young children.

Ann embraces both the arts and the sciences in her work with children. Her credentials in music and literature inform her role as executive director of Preschool of the Arts, a Reggio-Emilia inspired school in Madison, Wisconsin. Ann also developed expertise in robotics, computer science, and engineering through her work as early childhood coordinator for Northwestern University’s Center for Talent Development. Ann is a frequent speaker at professional conferences, such as the National Association for Young Children and the National Association for Gifted Children. Ann teaches early childhood education courses at Oakton Community College and she frequently provides teacher training and consultation for schools and early childhood organizations.