Problem Solving TRICKS at the Rubber Duck Junkyard!

Zara and Leo are back in the Believemobile! Or at least they were until it got towed and they had to go to the scrapyard to find it. Discover some quacking PROBLEM SOLVING strategies and meet the Fijian designer who found a way to solve problems AND have fun at the same time!

Do you want your growth mindset story to be featured on the Big Life Kids Podcast? Submit your story to Leo & Zara. 

In this episode, children will:

• learn how to look at problems differently
• discover a unique problem solving technique
• be inspired by Sagufta and how she found solutions to problems using old plastic

Discussion Questions

• In this episode, we learned about the Rubber Duck method of problem solving. This method involves talking to a rubber duck about the problems you’re trying to solve. What is something (or someone) you can talk to in order to think through a problem?
• What did Sagufta do to help solve Fiji’s trash problem?
• What challenge have you recently faced and how did you find a solution?

Supplemental Resources

Read

• What Do You Do With a Problem? by Kobi Yamada
  A New York Times Best Seller encouraging children not to avoid their problems but instead to face them and discover new solutions.
  
  
• Jabari Tries by Gaia Cornwall
  A young boy and his father find creative solutions to problems while building a clever invention.
  
  
• Ladybug Girl and Bumblebee Boy by Jacky Davis
  When facing a conflict, two new friends work together to find a solution they both agree with.

Watch

• Ormie the Pig (YouTube video)
  A funny animated video of a pig brainstorming clever ways to solve his problem.
  
  
• Solving Problems - Building Resilience with Hunter and Eve (YouTube video)
  This video teaches children three simple steps to solve problems.
  
  
• Helping Kids Resolve Conflicts (YouTube video)
  Elmo would like to play with his friends but there aren’t enough costumes. With a little encouragement, Elmo finds a solution to his problem, reminding children not to give up before they consider other options.

1. Print off the “Things Invented By Mistake” poster from our Resilience Kit and discuss with your child how solutions can often come from unexpected places.

 
2. As described in this episode, find a rubber duck and take turns telling the duck an imaginary (or real) problem. Then brainstorm the steps you’d each take to solve this problem.

3. Review our list on How to Teach Problem-Solving to Kids. This simple guide is broken down into age groups so you can find the advice and activity suggestions most suitable for your child.

Produced by Alexandra Eidens and Big Life Journal team. Written and directed by Sarah Cyrano. Sound design and original music by Elettra Bargiacchi. Sound mixing by Mattia Marcelli. Characters played by Sean Chiplock and Ryan Bartley. Managed by Laura Maloney. 

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