If you teach preschoolers, you already know this truth: not every problem feels small to a child.
A broken pencil can feel huge. Someone taking the doll they wanted can bring on instant tears. A little bump while lining up can suddenly become the biggest thing in the world.
That is exactly why teaching Size of the Problem is so helpful in the early years.
It gives children a way to start sorting out what happened, how serious it really is, and what kind of response might match. Over time, it can help with emotional regulation, problem-solving, and those everyday classroom conflicts that pop up all the time.
If you have children in your class who tend to have very big reactions to small frustrations, you are definitely not alone. This is a skill that needs to be taught, modelled, and revisited often.
Before we dive into these Size of the Problem activities, you can grab my free Size of the Problem vs Reaction Game. It’s a playful way to help children explore the idea that not every problem needs the same sized reaction.
Click on the image to grab it today!
If you’d also like lots of classroom-friendly examples to talk through with your students, you might enjoy these 50 Size of the Problem Examples for Preschool, Pre-K, and Kindergarten.
What is the size of the problem?
Size of the Problem is a social-emotional learning concept that helps children understand that different problems have different levels of seriousness.
Some problems are small. They might feel frustrating or disappointing, but they can usually be solved pretty quickly.
Some problems are medium. They may need a bit more thinking, support, or problem-solving.
And some problems are big. Those are the ones that need adult help straight away.
This can be tricky for young children because their feelings are real and intense, and they are still learning perspective. A small problem can genuinely feel enormous in the moment.
That is why it helps to teach this skill in simple, concrete ways with lots of examples, discussion, and practice.
Why is it important to teach the size of the problem?
I want you to picture a busy preschool classroom for a minute.
Children are painting, building, dressing up, reading, chatting, and moving from one thing to the next. Then suddenly, everyone needs you at once. Someone spilled the paint water. Someone took the baby doll. Someone got bumped near the cubbies. Someone is crying because they wanted the blue marker.
If you’ve ever had one of those moments, you already know why this skill matters.
Teaching children about Size of the Problem helps them begin to understand that not every problem is a big problem. It gives them language to describe what is happening and helps them learn that different situations may need different responses.
It also supports children with:
- emotional regulation
- flexible thinking
- problem-solving
- perspective-taking
- friendship skills
And honestly, it can make such a difference in the flow of the classroom too. The more children practise thinking about whether something is a small, medium, or big problem, the more support they have for working through those everyday little-kid moments.
What are small problems for preschoolers?
When we talk about small problems with preschoolers, we normally let them know that these are problems they can solve on their own. Also, they often result in only a small reaction or absolutely no reaction at all.
Some examples of small problems are:
- Not getting to stand in the front of the line.
- Breaking a pencil or crayon.
- Someone bumping into the child while at their cubbies.
These activities may upset the student, but they can deal with them appropriately, and the emotion may show up for a short time or not at all.
What are medium problems for preschoolers?
Medium problems require the student to think and may require help from others like a parent or a teacher. There is often some sort of reaction like crying, whining, or using words to show emotion like “ouch.”
Some examples of medium problems are:
- Spilling their water or milk
- Forgetting homework or project at home.
- Having a headache.
- Getting into an argument with a friend or classmate.
What are big problems for preschoolers?
Big problems are serious events that require help from many people and this may include doctors, police, firefighters, teachers, etc. Big problems often have big reactions like screaming, crying, running away, hiding, etc.
Some examples of big problems are:
- Being really sick.
- Breaking a bone.
- Getting into an accident.
- Losing a loved one.
Depending on the size of the problem, students can use a variety of different coping skills. There are many to choose from, and you want to work with the student to determine which skills can help them in certain situations.
I’ve helped my students through many different size of problem scenarios, and I’ve gathered a few of my favorite calm down techniques over the years. I have found it helpful to teach different calm down techniques throughout the school year and integrate them into our day so that they may have a repertoire of techniques to choose from when they need it.
Techniques that I have found useful are:
- Deep breathing exercises
- Writing or drawing about problem
- Positive self-talk
- Meditation & mindfulness practices
- Listening to or moving to calming music
- Taking mindfulness walks
- Sitting with a calming jar
Calm down techniques can help students with self-regulation and encourage them to find ways to deal with their emotions in a helpful way.
Sometimes it helps to give children lots of concrete examples before expecting them to apply the skill in real life. These 50 Size of the Problem Examples are a great place to start.
6 Easy Ways to Teach Size of the Problem in Your Preschool Classroom
There are plenty of simple ways to teach size of the problem to preschoolers, which will help them not only in your classroom but also in life.
1. Size of the Problem Visuals
Preschoolers learn through all their senses. One way you can give students a visual representation of this concepts is to use 3 different-sized containers or 3 different-sized balloons to explain how problems come in all different sizes. Fill the containers with colored rice, or blow up the balloons in front of them. Discuss how the less air or less rice means the smaller the problem, and the more rice or air, the bigger the problem.
You could also watch a YouTube video or read a story. There are tons of great options!
YouTube Size of the Problem Videos
Big Problems and Small Problems
Big Problem vs. Little Problem
Size of the Problem Books
Don’t Squeal Unless It’s A Big Deal
2. Use Social Scenarios
Discussions are some of the best ways to help teach students important skills. Write down common scenarios that may happen in preschool & together as a class, and sort them into the different containers.
List of common scenarios in preschool:
- Forgot your drink bottle
- You don’t know what you are supposed to be doing.
- Someone pulls your hair.
- Name-calling
- Your shoe lace is untied.
- You miss your Mom.
- Your dog is in hospital.
If you’re looking for even more real-life examples to sort and discuss, these 50 Size of the Problem examples for Preschool, Pre-K, and Kindergarten might come in handy.
3. Highlight Possible Reactions
When learning about the size of the problem, you want to ensure you give students the opportunity to talk about how they would react to different situations. Remember, some students will react one way, while others will react differently. Ask your students to think of possible reactions to problems & write them down on the board or slips of paper.
Example: Ask for help, forget about it, take a deep breath, speak to a teacher, cry, etc.
After they have given reactions, put up different scenarios and decide which reaction matches which problem. After that, match the possible scenarios/reactions to the size of problems.
4. Role Playing
Role-playing can be super helpful here, and can also be a lot of fun! Try picking a random problem out of a hat & pick a random reactions out of a hat. Example: You lose a pencil, and your reaction is falling on the floor, crying hysterically. Now role-play it, you’ll surely get a laugh, and it will start a wonderful conversation about the types of reactions each problem should have.
You can also Role-play a problem. Once you (or students) act out different problems, discuss with students – What is the problem? What is the size of the problem? Possible ways to deal with the problem.
If your students enjoy learning through active, hands-on practice, you might also like these 6 fun activities to teach big vs little problems in Preschool.
5. Reinforce Learning
After you and your students have learned about the problem’s size, practiced, and discussed it. You want to ensure you are constantly reinforcing their learning.
Some ways you can easily reinforce learning are to:
- Display the size of the problem poster(s) so students can see it and be reminded.
- Use worksheets
- Spend time with your students, observing and supporting them in their day. Discuss what you see at the end of day group time.
- Use the language introduced (small, medium, big problem, etc.) and make it part of your classroom language and culture.
- Send a note home to families. Provide a common shared language around the size of the problem.
If you’d like ready-to-use materials to keep reinforcing this skill, my Big vs Small Problem Activities Bundle is a great next step for ongoing classroom practice.
6. Use a Problem Size Thermometer
Introduce a visual tool like a “problem size thermometer” to help preschoolers gauge the severity of a problem. Create a large thermometer chart with sections labeled “Small Problem,” “Medium Problem,” and “Big Problem.”
How to Use It:
- Present different scenarios and ask the students to “measure” the problem by placing it on the thermometer.
- Use color coding (e.g., green for small, yellow for medium, red for big) to make it easy for young learners to visualize.
- Discuss why each problem fits into its respective category.
Example:
- “Your shoelace is untied. Is this a small, medium, or big problem? Let’s put it on the thermometer.”
- “You lost your favorite toy. Where does this go on the thermometer?”
The thermometer not only simplifies the concept but also creates an interactive way for students to assess problem sizes, fostering better understanding and engagement.
Size of the Problem Matters
Teaching Size of the Problem is one of those things that can have such a ripple effect in the classroom.
It helps children build perspective. It supports emotional regulation. It gives them a way to think through problems instead of reacting straight from the feeling. And over time, it can make those everyday classroom challenges feel a little more manageable for everyone.
Like any social-emotional skill, this is not something children learn in one lesson and then magically know forever. It takes modelling, repetition, discussion, and lots of chances to practise in real-life situations.
But it is such worthwhile work.
Because when children begin to understand that different problems have different sizes, they also begin to learn that their response can match the situation too. And that is a powerful life skill to start building early.
If you want more classroom-friendly ways to teach this skill, you might also like these 50 Size of the Problem examples for Preschool, Pre-K, and Kindergarten or these fun Size of the Problem activities for Preschool.
