Problem-solving Activities
See how Aurrum Kids Toowoomba is teaching babies, toddlers and preschoolers to solve problems their own way.
BY HEJIRA CONVERY, KINDICARE
John Lennon famously said, “There are no problems, only solutions” and this positive spin definitely plays out in the early learning space!
Problem-solving activities are part of the program at quality childcare centres, and learning how to grapple with different challenges (both mentally and physically) is really great for children’s learning and development.
Problem-solving activities encourage under-sixes to think creatively, work collaboratively and wonder aloud, while flexing their fine and gross motor skills, and Aurrum Kids Toowoomba is one place where problems are solved every single day!
This brand-new centre is staffed by experienced and enthusiastic educators, and they offer a wide variety of problem-solving activities to nurture curious minds and inspire creative thinkers.
This sets early learners up for life, and if you’re keen to unlock your own child’s problem-solving skills, then it’s definitely helpful to see what’s happening at Aurrum Kids Toowoomba!
At this centre, children are given the freedom to approach challenges as they see fit, and have fun along the way.
Centre Manager, Kylie Wilkins, explains that her team looks at cognitive skills and development through a play-based lens, and they make sure the program is personalised, and the activities appealing.
Kylie says, “At Aurrum Kids, we are very much child-led, so we look at the children’s interests and what their strengths are, and follow those.
“We also use a lot of open-ended resources, which can be used in many different ways, instead of having one end point.”
This means that although puzzles are great for problem-solving, they’re not the only resource children have access to.
Aurrum Kids Toowoomba has a huge variety of resources for all age groups, and there’s a great mix of sparkly new playthings and lovingly collected loose parts.
Each resource is carefully matched to the age, ability and interests of the child, and although every problem-solver advances at their own pace, there are some particularly popular activities in the different rooms.
Kylie explains that in the Nursery, problem-solving activities often revolve around stacking, constructing, pushing and pulling.
Things like foam blocks, maze toys and pop-up toys are great for babies to grapple with, and Kylie says, “We provide lots of opportunities for our youngest learners to pull things in and out, using their fine motor skills, and work out how things open and close, with lots of latches and lift-the-flap books.”
She explains that, “These books are really popular with our toddlers too, and they also love our puzzle mazes, with the magnetic maze boards. These are great for the toddlers’ hand-eye coordination, as they work out how to get the magnet from one side of the board to the other.”
Memory games, shape sorters and colour matching activities are also really great for the toddlers, and once they’re past the ‘putting everything in my mouth’ phase, ages three to five benefit from a lot of loose parts play.
Kylie says, “They enjoy finding different ways to explore and manage found things, and we offer lots of open-ended items, like boxes, rocks and flowers, that can be used in endless ways to spark children’s curiosity and solve problems.”
Obstacle courses and scavenger hunts also get the preschoolers thinking and moving in creative ways.
And a lot of problem-solving happens in the centre’s amazing art-making areas, as children experiment with different techniques, materials and perspectives.
Along the way, Aurrum’s educators scaffold children’s learning with open-ended questions.
These questions bring resources to life and round out the children’s experiences, and although the open-ended questions prompt deep thinking, they aren’t wordy and complex.
The educators might simply say:
- “What is this?” then “What could this be?”
- “What happens if I do this?”
- Or, “How am I going to make this work?”
Leading comments can also be inspiring, such as “Tell me why” or “Tell me how”.
And sometimes the educators offer specific prompts, like:
- “We need to tidy up these toys. How do we do that?”
- “We need to have six paintbrushes. How are we going to make six?”
- Or, “I wonder what kind of home we can build for this ladybird?”
The educators also give early learners the time and space to solve problems on their own.
Child-led learning happens at all of Aurrum Kids’ centres, and the children benefit from being able to self-direct the things they’re interested in, follow their passions, and find their own way.
Kylie says, “Giving children that sense of agency and the time to work out how to achieve something is important – even if something is difficult or slow-going.”
And instead of dwelling on frustrations and failures, the team provides the children with lots of praise and encouragement to build their confidence as they learn and develop.
This is great to see at an early learning service, and at home, you can mirror a lot of Aurrum’s activities and interactions to help your child become a great problem-solver.
Whether you buy a number maze puzzle, pull out a box of rocks, or wonder aloud when sorting the washing, there are endless ways to encourage problem-solving in your child’s early years.
And if you’re wondering (quietly) whether Aurrum Kids Toowoomba has any vacancies, then we’re pleased to report that they do!
The centre has a select number of vacancies for toddlers and kindy kids at the moment, and enrolments are open for 2025.
To explore Aurrum Kids Toowoomba, click the ‘Make Enquiry’ button in their KindiCare listing, and we hope your centre tour solves the puzzle of your childcare search!