International Baccalaureate
Helping Children Learn Through Challenges
A cardboard tower falls over. A maths strategy gives an unexpected answer. A group has two different ideas about how to solve a problem. These moments give children a chance to pause, think and decide what to try next.
In the Primary Years Programme (PYP), children develop Approaches to Learning (ATL) skills as they work through challenges. They use thinking skills to consider another approach, communication skills to explain where they need help and self-management skills to pause and regroup when they feel frustrated.
What this can look like at home
If your child gets stuck building a model, solving a puzzle or trying a new skill, give them a moment to think. Then ask a question that helps them find a next step.
“Which part is tricky?”
“What have you tried so far?”
“What could you change or try another way?”
“What kind of help would be useful?”
You can also name the strategy you noticed. For example, “You made the base wider after the tower fell. What difference did that make?” This helps your child recognise a strategy they can use again.
These same skills come together in the PYP Exhibition. As students investigate a topic that matters to them, they may need to rethink a question, ask for feedback or adjust their plans. Everyday opportunities to make those decisions help children practise the skills they’ll draw on during Exhibition.
A family conversation starter
Share a time you got stuck and explain what helped you move forward. Then ask your child, “When did you get stuck recently, and what helped you take the next step?”