Problem solving activities are not just finding solutions for challenging issues but a holistic way of resolving with creative and innovative skills. It has psychological, creative, analytic and logical, all skills enriched and enhanced for an optimal solution. Problem solving activities for teens are meant to unleash their imaginative abilities and make them proactive thinkers and decision makers. Problem solving is not absolute in terms, everyone finds their own unique ways of treating an issue. Just that the one thats most optimal in given constraints is to be taken up. Thats where the focus lies in problem solving activities for teens. Build that optimal space in the creative minds of teens, so that their energies and competencies explore that aspect first.
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Problem solving effectively leads to rational thinking and better optimal utilization of resources in life, at work and everywhere. In today’s scenario, with google being the whole-in-soul for majority, problem solving fades the very essence of creative wizard in little minds. But if strategically aligned and utilized it can add further to creative techniques. The larger idea is to enable creative stimulation, so sharing a few recipes to let the creativity ooze out of the juvenile teen minds.
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Some Problem Solving Activities for Teens in groups, include:
1- Scavenger Hunt:
Scavenger hunt is a classic problem solving game which needs team coordination and step by step resolution. For this game, arrange a set of sub games, say 5 to 8 games under steps like
I- Start by writing an essay on a theme for 100 words
II- Solve puzzle
III- Drink a glass of water
IV- Solve SUDOKU
V- Find an item hidden
VI- Write lyrics of a song
The team that finishes all first, wins the hunt. The catch here is going step by step, coordinating but letting one person take charge of each sub step so that effective division of responsibility is done.
2- Wool web:
Divide into teams and give a yarn of separate colors to each team. Ask them to make a web. Now switch teams and blindfold one member from each team. Let the team-mates guide through for opening the web. Whoever finishes first wins. In order to win, there has to be coordination, patience, focus and concentration.
3- Role Playing:
Choose the roles most relevant to their situation. Say for teens at a sports camp choose a situation amid match with tension and team has to reach a decision using problem solving skills. Enact and behave as if in the actual situation and let impulse drive them at first. Following which a more rational way comes out.
4- Story completion:
Give a sentence of a story to each member from team. Ask them to organize and form a meaningful story. They may have different story than the one shared but they have to make meaning out of it. Whichever team does it first wins.
5- Tower building:
Use planks, boxes, foods or toys or anything thats fun and requires focus. Make the team proceed one person at a time. Best is spaghetti and marshmallows as they help in motor skills with dexterity. All team mates have to build one big tower for the team. Whichever makes the biggest tower that stays put, wins the activity.
6- Introduction:
For strangers, great problem solving activity can be first take introduction by speaking full names and one fruit or animal that describes them. Then make them all recall the full names of each other when you read out the fruit of animal name suggested. Group them for more fun problem solving. It needs concentration and memory to be able to recall and relate.
7- Draw the shape:
Divide the group into teams. Blindfold one person from each team and give a shape or figure (couples is more fun) for team members to take chances and make the person draw. Remember they can not name the shape or item just 5 directions to be used. Go straight, draw left, draw right, draw circle and stop. Whichever team draws the figure first wins it.
8- Dumb Charades:
Make a twist to classic dumb charades. Give a name of a board game or place or movie to be enacted by one member of each team and make rules for no sounds at all. A lot of concentration and observation is needed.
9- Walk the laser web:
Make a laser web kind of bright colored web in a corridor or room and let the team members walk out of it without touching the yarn. If any one touches the yarn, the entire team repeats it again.
10- Group Drawing:
Divide the group into 3 with separate tasks: Drawer, talker, viewer. The drawer is just having a canvas and color and can’t view the drawing or the viewer. The talker describes the design to the drawer. While the viewer sees whats drawn and whats viewed. But they can’t speak anything. Just non verbal communication of 2 or 3 movements allowed using head or hand which are pre decided. Whichever team makes first, wins.
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Problem solving in groups is more of a challenge as the group dynamics sometimes get complex. These will be the real life challenges the teen will soon be facing. These kinds of activities not only enrich the creative juices and thinking process but also help teens to clan among themselves. Find their group goals and try to coordinate and cooperate for accomplishing them.
The above compilation on, “Problem Solving Activities for Teens” is based on my own experiences with Grad students, while i was training them for management careers ahead. These group activities are beyond the bars of age and stage. These activities have helps me for ice-breaking, team bonding skills and most importantly, problem solving skills for the groups. As fun as it sounds, there are ample psychological and analytical lessons a teen can derive from these.
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By Minu Manisha
