A one-year-old attempting to build a tower of blocks may bring the pile crashing down, yet her five-year-old sister accomplishes this task with ease. Why do young children have difficulty with problems that present no real challenge to older children? How do problem-solving skills develop? In Children Solving Problems, Stephanie Thornton surveys recent research from a broad range of perspectives in order to explore this important question. What Thornton finds may come as a surprise: successful problem-solving depends less on how smart we are--or, as the pioneering psychologist Jean Piaget claimed, how advanced our skill in logical reasoning is--and more on the factual knowledge we acquire as we learn and interpret cues from the world around us. Problem-solving skills evolve through experience and dynamic interaction with a problem. But equally important--as the Russian psychologist L. S. Vygotsky proposed--is social interaction. Successful problem-solving is a social process. Sharing problem-solving tasks--with skilled adults and with other children--is vital to a child's growth in expertise and confidence. In problem-solving, confidence can be more important than skill. In a real sense, problem-solving lies at the heart of what we mean by intelligence. The ability to identify a goal, to work out how to achieve it, and to carry out that plan is the essence of every intelligent activity. Could it be, Thornton suggests, that problem-solving processes provide the fundamental machinery for cognitive development? In Children Solving Problems she synthesizes the dramatic insights and findings of post-Piagetian research and sets the agenda for the next stage in understanding the varied phenomena of children's problem-solving.

When Tyler is teased by the other boys, his good friend, Danae, encourages him to give the boys A Bug and a Wish. When Tyler finds a ladybug and a dandelion seed, he is convinced that this is what Danae means. As his friend helps him learn the true meaning of her advice, Tyler soon discovers the solution to his problem.

This book is the first to systematically describe the key components necessary to ensure successful implementation of Collaborative Problem Solving (CPS) across mental health settings and non-mental health settings that require behavioral management. This resource is designed by the leading experts in CPS and is focused on the clinical and implementation strategies that have proved most successful within various private and institutional agencies. The book begins by defining the approach before delving into the neurobiological components that are key to understanding this concept. Next, the book covers the best practices for implementation and evaluating outcomes, both in the long and short term. The book concludes with a summary of the concept and recommendations for additional resources, making it an excellent concise guide to this cutting edge approach. Collaborative Problem Solving is an excellent resource for psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, and all medical professionals working to manage troubling behaviors. The text is also valuable for readers interested in public health, education, improved law enforcement strategies, and all stakeholders seeking to implement this approach within their program, organization, and/or system of care.

This book will teach your students an exciting and powerful problem-solving method from start to finish (includes 30 reproducible classroom activities). Students will learn to work together and individually to find appropriate and unique solutions to real-world problems by using this tested method. Grades 2-8

Guide children to new heights with the Creative Problem Solving methods outlined in CPS for Kids. This book will teach your students an exciting and powerful problem-solving method from start to finish. Each step in the process, from finding problems to finding solutions, is outlined in detail and includes accompanying activities on reproducible pages. Designed for students in grades 2-8, these activities are challenging and interesting. Creative Problem Solving is a process that allows people to apply both creative and critical thinking to find solutions to everyday problems. CPS can eliminate the tendency to approach problems in a haphazard manner and, consequently, prevents surprises and/or disappointment with the solution. Students will learn to work together or individually to find appropriate and unique solutions to real-world problems they may face by using this tested method. Most importantly, they will be challenged to think both creatively and critically as they tackle each problem they face. CPS for Kids includes 30 reproducible classroom activities. Grades 2-8

Suitable for teachers and caregivers in daycare and preschool settings, this work provides a child-centered introduction to guidance. It offers practical applications and helpful advice on child behavior, safety, health, and learning. It also aims to build on the developmental needs of the children, providing them with freedom and safety.

A universal school-based program designed to enhance the interpersonal cognitive processes and problem-solving skills of children in preschool to grade 6. ICPS is proven to prevent and reduce early high-risk behaviors such as impulsivity and social withdrawal and to promote prosocial behaviors such as concern for others and positive peer relationships.