How do children get better at problem-solving?
The Montessori answer is this — children improve their problem-solving skills by continually having opportunities to independently solve real-life problems that pose just the right level of challenge. If the challenge is too easy, they get bored; if it is too hard, they become frustrated and give up.
Getting kids to assemble DIY furniture independently is a great way to promote problem-solving in small, collaborative groups! It is not trivial to do, and certainly not too hard.
In this exercise, children had to figure out how all the constituent parts of their newly purchased document cabinets, file holders and shelves fitted together. No help other than the (scanty) printed directions!
In 90 minutes, it was all perfectly done. A wonderful way to spend a morning, and certainly better than having adults do it for them!