The Family ~ Think of All the Possibilities!

Puss-in-Boots was one of the most creative problem-solvers in children's literature.  Try to think beyond Shrek to the original fairy tale and you'll come to appreciate how creative Puss was!  No problem was too big for him to tackle and both he and his master prospered as a result.

In all seriousness, life is all about problems.  It is through solving them that we grow as people.  God told Adam that He would "curse the ground for [Adam's] sake," knowing that as Adam worked to face his challenges, he would grow stronger and wiser and - ultimately - happier.  So when we have to face problems, it is in our very natures to want to solve them.  Throwing our hands in the air, blaming others, or cursing the circumstances are all exercises in futility.  The more complex the problem, the more important it is to approach it with wisdom and creativity.

Once we have adequately defined the problem in a way that everyone involved can understand, it is time to get creative: think of the all of the possibilities.  This process is often called brainstorming because you want to come up with a flurry of ideas.  Whether you are working on a personal problem alone or a family problem as a group, write down all of your ideas.  Don't try to hold them in your head: you'll miss something.  The best solution may not be the first or second thing you think of, so list everything, even if it seems far-fetched.  Brainstorm now, evaluate later!

As you brainstorm, remember that you can start with a fictitious problem while you teach the method.  However if you are already in the midst of a problem, you might want to go over the "rules" and jump right into it.  Remember: people must have already cooled their emotional jets as much as possible and have agreed that they are willing to work on a solution. Here are some simple guidelines that might help you teach this step in problem-solving to your family. 

• Choose a scribe.  Write down everything!
• Don't discard anyone's ideas; just list them; you will evaluate later.
• No criticism if allowed; everyone's ideas are to be considered, even if they seem far-fetched and you think they won't work.
• Wild ideas are okay for right now.  Even a wild idea might spark a good idea no one would have thought of otherwise.
• Encourage family members to build on the ideas of others.  Pool your creativity.
• Make sure that you are focusing on just the one problem.  Don't worry about mush and chairs.  If the brainstorming brings up other problems, write them to the side and go back to them later.  Don't lose your focus.
• Promote a fun and cooperative atmosphere.  Discourage competition.  Remember: you're a family, not a contest.  Don't let family members start blaming and shaming.  Attack the problem, not each other.
• Make sure that all family members get a chance to have their ideas heard.  Encourage quieter children to participate by asking them what they think.
• Don't stop brainstorming too soon.  Some of the best ideas come late in the process. *

Brainstorming can be a fun process.  Make sure you validate each person's contributions by suspending judgements of people and ideas.  As your family members learn that they can share ideas without being criticized, they may get really excited about problem-solving!

* Brainstorming guidelines adapted from Joining Together by David and Frank Johnson, Prentice Hall, Inc, 1982.

 

Text © 2012 Gebara Education

 

Picture of Puss-in-Boots from www.123rf.com