​​Problem-solving is one of the most important skills young learners can develop. Every day, preschoolers and kindergarteners face small challenges—sharing toys, taking turns, finding missing items, or figuring out what to do when something doesn’t go as planned.

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At this stage, children are still learning how to identify problems, think through solutions, and decide on the best course of action. Teaching them a simple, structured approach to problem-solving helps build independence, confidence, and social skills.

This article will cover:

• Why problem-solving skills matter for preschool and kindergarten students
• How to teach a simple, step-by-step problem-solving process
• A free printable problem-solving activity to help children explore different solutions

By the end, you’ll have a ready-to-use classroom activity that helps young learners become more independent problem-solvers.

Why Teaching Problem-Solving Matters in Early Childhood

Preschoolers and kindergarteners are still developing the ability to recognize problems and think critically about solutions. Instead of reacting emotionally when something doesn’t go their way, they need guidance on how to pause, assess the situation, and try different strategies.

Teaching problem-solving early helps children:

• Develop independence by learning how to handle small challenges on their own
• Strengthen decision-making skills through structured thinking
• Build confidence in their ability to solve everyday problems
• Improve emotional regulation by reducing frustration when things don’t go as expected

When young learners practice problem-solving strategies in a fun, hands-on way, they gain the skills they need to navigate daily situations with confidence.

The Preschool Problem-Solving Process

Problem-solving can be broken down into five simple steps that young learners can follow whenever they face a challenge.

1. Identify the problem – What is wrong? What do I need help with?
2. Decide if I need help – Can I solve this on my own, or should I ask a teacher or friend?
3. Think of possible solutions – What are some different ways I can fix this problem?
4. Choose the best solution – Which idea seems like the best way to solve my problem?
5. Decide if the problem is solved – Did my solution work? If not, what else can I try?

By introducing this structured problem-solving process, children learn that problems don’t have to feel overwhelming—they can slow down, think, and find a way forward.

Interactive Problem-Solving Activity: My Problem-Solving Toolbox

This free printable activity teaches preschool and kindergarten students how to explore different problem-solving strategies and apply them in daily life. 

Students will:

1. Learn about different problem-solving strategies
2. Pick three strategies to put in their “Problem-Solving Toolbox“
3. Practice using their toolbox in different classroom scenarios

This activity reinforces the idea that there’s not just one right way to solve a problem—instead, students can try different approaches to see what works best.

Example Problem-Solving Tools

Some of the strategies students can choose from include:

• Take a deep breath – Helps calm down before making a decision
• Ask a friend for help – Encourages teamwork and communication
• Try a different way – Teaches flexibility and creative thinking
• Use kind words – Helps with solving social conflicts
• Ask a teacher for help – Reinforces that adults are there for support when needed

By practicing choosing and using these tools, young learners build confidence in handling everyday challenges.

Lesson Plan: Problem-Solving Toolbox Young Learners

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

• Recognize and define simple problems
• Choose different strategies to solve problems
• Apply their Problem-Solving Toolbox to everyday situations

Materials

• Printable My Problem-Solving Toolbox activity
• Scissors and glue for assembling toolboxes
• Whiteboard or chart paper for group discussions

Step 1: Introduce the Problem-Solving Steps (5 minutes)

Gather students in a circle and start by talking about how everyone has problems sometimes—but instead of getting upset, we can use our brains to find a way to fix them.

Say: “Sometimes things don’t go the way we want. Maybe we can’t find our favorite toy, or we want to play with the same thing as a friend. But instead of feeling stuck, we can use special tools to help us solve the problem!”

Let students share examples of times they had a problem. Then, introduce the idea of a Problem-Solving Toolbox, explaining that just like a real toolbox helps people fix things, a problem-solving toolbox helps us fix tricky situations.

Step 2: Brainstorm Common Preschool Problems (5 minutes)

Write the word “PROBLEM” on the board. Ask students:

• What are some problems we face at school? (Examples: Someone takes my seat, I can’t open my lunchbox, I lose my pencil.)
• Have you ever had a hard time sharing or figuring out what to do next?
• How do we feel when we don’t know what to do?

Write down their responses and help them connect each problem to a possible solution.

For example:

• Problem: “I can’t open my juice box!”
• Possible solutions: Ask a teacher, ask a friend, try to open it a different way.

Explain that there are many ways to solve a problem—and today, they will pick tools to help them solve problems on their own.

Step 3: Introduce the Problem-Solving Toolbox (10 minutes)

Show students the Problem-Solving Toolbox printable and explain that they will choose three tools to put inside their toolbox.

Say: “When you have a problem, you can try different tools to solve it. Let’s look at some of the tools we can use!”

Go through each problem-solving tool one by one, using simple examples:

• Take a deep breath – “When we feel upset, taking a deep breath helps us calm down before solving the problem.”
• Ask a friend for help – “If we can’t reach something on a shelf, maybe a friend can help us!”
• Use kind words – “If someone takes your spot, you can say, ‘Can I have my turn back?’ instead of grabbing it.”
• Try a different way – “If the first idea doesn’t work, what else can we try?”
• Ask a teacher for help – “Some problems need adult help, like if someone gets hurt.”

Encourage students to think about which tools they might like to keep in their own toolbox.

Step 4: Activity – Build Your Problem-Solving Toolbox (15 minutes)

Pass out the Problem-Solving Toolbox printable and let students cut out and glue three problem-solving tools into their toolbox.

As they work, walk around and ask each student: “Why did you choose these tools? When do you think you might use them?”

Encourage them to explain their choices. For example:

• “I chose ‘Take a Deep Breath’ because sometimes I get upset, and breathing helps me calm down.”
• “I picked ‘Ask a Friend for Help’ because I like working together!”

This step reinforces the idea that students can choose different ways to solve problems based on the situation.

Step 5: Practice Using the Toolbox (10 minutes)

Now that students have their toolboxes, practice using them with real-world classroom scenarios.

Read aloud a problem-solving situation and ask students to hold up one of their tools that they would use to solve it.

Example:
“You and a friend both want the same toy. What could you do?”

• A student might hold up “Use Kind Words” and say, “I could ask, ‘Can we take turns?’”
• Another might choose “Try a Different Way” and say, “I could find another toy until it’s my turn.”

Reinforce that different tools work for different problems—and sometimes, you need more than one tool to solve a problem.

Step 6: Reflection & Wrap-Up (5 minutes)

Gather students in a circle and ask them to think about what they learned today.

Ask:

• How does having a toolbox help you feel more ready to solve problems?
• Can you use these tools at home and with friends?
• What should you do if your first idea doesn’t work?

Remind students:
“Just like a real toolbox, we can try different tools to see what works best. If one tool doesn’t work, we try another one until we find a good solution!”

Encourage them to use their toolboxes throughout the week and notice when they solve problems on their own.

Want More? Access Additional Free Resources!

Everyday Speech is a no-prep digital curriculum that combines evidence-based video modeling, interactive web games, and digital and printable worksheets to make teaching social skills easy.

We offer a free 30-day trial where you can use our thousands of video lessons, worksheets, and games to teach social skills like problem-solving. 

Here’s an example video modeling lesson for teaching problem-solving from our curriculum: