San Diego Psychologists Explain How To Teach Kids To Solve Problems

Aired 4/16/15 on KPBS Midday Edition

San Diego Psychologists Write Book On Teaching Kids To Solve Problems

GUESTS:

Darlene Sweetland, clinical psychologist

Ron Stolberg, clinical psychologist

Transcript for audioclip 24201

The cover of the book, Teaching Kids to Think: Raising Confident, Independent & Thoughtful Children in an Age of Instant Gratification" by San Diego psychologists Darlene Sweetland and Ron Stolberg is pictured.

Two San Diego child psychologists have written a book, “Teaching Kids to Think,” about how a life filled with instant gratification can produce unintended consequences.

The book by husband and wife Ron Stolberg and Darlene Sweetland was released last month.

It explores questions like: How is a life filled with instant gratification affecting kids as they learn to solve their own problems? And are some parents denying their children the ability to make their own mistakes?

Sweetland said today’s society is used to instant gratification, which in turn means kids aren’t being given the opportunity to develop problem-solving skills.

“Kids essentially are not getting to think,” Sweetland told KPBS Midday Edition on Thursday. “I think there are many opportunities for kids to be independent.”

Sweetland suggested letting kids walk part way to school or play in the park while you sit across the street (rather than at the park) to help them become independent.

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