Which statement best describes progression from PreK3 to PreK4 in social problem solving?

• A. PreK3 children rely completely on adults to resolve conflicts
• B. PreK3 children never help resolve problems
• C. PreK4 children initiate sharing and propose solutions to social problems
• D. PreK4 children avoid conflicts

Answer: (C)

Progression in social problem solving during the preschool years shows children moving from needing adults to help mediate conflicts toward more independent, peer-oriented negotiation. By the time children reach PreK4, they increasingly take the initiative to share and to suggest ways to solve social problems themselves. This reflects growing skills in perspective-taking, communication, and collaborative reasoning—they might use phrases like “Let’s take turns” or “You go first this time,” and propose solutions rather than waiting for an adult to decide.

Think of what this looks like in action: PreK4 children aren’t avoiding conflicts; they’re actively working through them with peers, offering compromises, and testing ideas for fair outcomes. The other statements aren’t aligned with this developmental trend. Saying that PreK3 children rely completely on adults is too absolute, since they do engage in some problem-solving with peers. Claiming they never help resolve problems or that PreK4 children avoid conflicts doesn’t fit the observed growth in independent social problem solving.