How to Encourage Flexible Thinking

​Flexible thinking (or “cognitive flexibility” if you ask a doctor) is an incredibly useful executive function skill. It allows us to mentally pivot when we need to and problem solve with critical thinking. Seems simple enough, right? Problem is this is a learned skill – and some learn it more easily than others.
 
When a child has difficulty with flexible thinking, they often have trouble switching gears when necessary. They face challenges when finding different approaches to problems. They may become anxious or even angry if they can only see one possible solution to their problem – and that solution doesn’t bring resolution.
 
It is common for learners who struggle with flexible thinking to freeze up or simply do nothing when faced with a challenge. Or, perhaps they repeatedly try the same single strategy to overcome the challenge, even if it’s not working. Their thinking is often rigid and they can struggle with being able to move beyond the most basic way of doing something.  Especially as we enter a new school year, still amidst a pandemic, when things continue to look and feel different, the benefits of flexible thinking make it a skill worth learning.
 
Flexible thinking will be a great benefit to all learners of every age! Here’s a few exercises you can use at home to help encourage flexible thinking:
 

• Play – Puzzles are an obvious and great way to encourage flexible thinking. Board games can also offer opportunities for your child to practice their cognitive flexibility. Encourage your child to verbalize their thought process as they work through the game. It can even be as simple as having them say what they’re doing, as they do it. And then you follow up with, “and why did you decided to do it that way?” Another strategy that can be tried is reversing the rules of a game they know well. Take Chutes and Ladders, for instance. Instead of climbing up the ladders and sliding down the chutes, play by sliding down the ladders and walking up the chutes.
  
  
• Read – Reading of all kinds encourages flexible thinking! Some books, like Amelia Bedelia, are uniquely written to encourage flexible thinking since Amelia tends to take everything literally. “Amelia, draw the curtains” leads to her drawing a picture of them. Ask your child what she should have done instead!

 

• Laugh – Tell jokes that use wordplay. For example: “Why are fish so smart?....Because they live in schools!” Explain to your child how the punchline of this joke uses two different meanings of the word “school” – both as a place, and as a group of fish.

 
 
If you’re looking for more ways to help your child boost their flexible thinking and executive function skills so they can be successful in their learning – come talk to The Village Tutors!