The first step to problem solving is identifying the problem. This page offers tips to help you recognize when there is a problem and then identify the problem as clearly as possible.
If you have completed the five steps of the Bright IDEAS system and are not satisfied with the result, you might need to go back and try Steps 1 to 5 again. Read through the case study for an example of what this can look like.
Step 2 of the Bright IDEAS system for problem solving is to define your options. Find tips for creating a list of possible solutions and learn how to rate each of your options.
Step 3 of the Bright IDEAS system is to evaluate the options you listed in the previous step. Learn how to evaluate and rank your options to help you choose the best solution for your situation.
Learn how to make the most of your network to get the support you need when a child has a long-term illness.
Step 5 of the Bright IDEAS system for problem solving is to see how your plan worked and if you are satisfied with the solution. Learn how to rate your solution and what the next steps are based on your rating.
Step 4 of the Bright IDEAS system for problem solving is to act out your choice. Find out how to create an action plan to help you act out the solution you chose in Step 3.
Find out how negative and positive thinking can affect how you feel and how you manage stress and pain.
Read about the experiences of teenagers who have had scoliosis surgery and their first hand accounts of their fears, relationships, and recovery.
When preparing to have scoliosis surgery, it is normal to experience a change in mood, or anxiety. Read about why they occur and tips for managing them.
Learn how a child's transplant can affect their siblings and how you can help them adjust.
Read about the experiences of teenagers who have had scoliosis surgery and the first hand accounts of their fears, relationships, and recovery.
Learn why self-efficacy is important for academic success and well-being in children.
School mates may not understand your scoliosis surgery, and may overreact. Learn tips for communicating with them, as well as preparing for school absences.
Some children are born without a thumb. In a procedure called pollicization, doctors can reposition the index finger to make it work like a thumb.
Learn some tips for communicating your needs and coping with your friends' reactions to you having scoliosis surgery.
Learn about the impact of emotions on problem solving and how to use positive self-statements to give you the best chance of solving problems successfully.
You will have to be careful when you go back to work after having scoliosis surgery. Learn some tips for communicating with you employer.
World Hepatitis Day is July 28. Learn about hepatitis C, a virus that affects the liver, and find out how to live with the disease as a teen.
Information for children with hepatitis B, including what it is and how to live a healthy lifestyle with the virus.
No matter how others identify, it is important to respect the words people use to describe themselves. Learn tips about how to be more gender-inclusive and use gender-neutral language.
