3 Ways to Teach Thinking Flexibly
The first step to changing a behavior is to understand it. All behavior arises from something, and until that is understood we cannot, as educators or parents, help a child change it.
Let’s think of some scenarios where a kid might get upset over something we think is silly:
“I thought I was going to eat pizza and I get peanut butter and jelly.”
“I thought we were going to the birthday party today, but that’s not until tomorrow.”
“I wanted to sit in my chair but someone took it.”
“I wanted a pink cupcake but I got a blue one.”
Now let’s think about what upsets us throughout the day:
“A main road is closed and I have to drive backroads.”
“I didn’t have enough time to stop for coffee so now I have to drink water.”
“The assembly we have had scheduled for weeks just changed times this morning and now I have to rearrange my whole day.”
These scenarios are not so different. From both an adult and child’s point of view these are all interruptions to a routine or disruptions from what was expected.
So how do we teach children to think flexibly and understand how to react to these disruptions?
1. Demonstrate with videos:
By demonstrating with videos such as Habits of Mind Animations, kids can relate to what Dee expected (she wanted to eat spaghetti) and the disappointment she felt when she saw that it was no today. But they can also relate to how happy Maria was that it was Cinco de Mayo and that she got to eat Tamales! Empathy is an important step in thinking flexibly. This empathy is cultivated when you choose examples from videos or literature that kids can relate to. They will be able to relate with all characters since they are not consumed by their own emotions.
2. Role play and predict:
If you have students that are constantly upset by changes in routine, this is a good quick activity to do daily. Role playing could happen in a classroom in the morning by choosing volunteers or just a quick “what would you do” game. Bring up a scenario that has happened in the past or could very well happen any day (you have a substitute, we have a fire drill during gym, tc.) and help the kids act out the right and wrong way to respond, talking through thinking flexibly about the situation and why things might need to be changed in their day.
3. Directly teach “how big is your problem”:
By creating or using a sliding scale of 1-5, outline with the students or class what kind of problems are a “Level 1” and what kind of problems are a “Level 5” and everything in between. Go back and watch the Habits of Mind video and look at characters in books your students have read. What level of problem was this really? Did they act like it was that level or did they overreact?
The bottom line is thinking flexibly can help kids (and us) try new things, have new experiences, and learn about other people and topics. It’s a life skill that’s important to teach even though it’s not necessarily in a text book… and my favorite part is that I can keep learning more about thinking flexibly in my own life too!
Janelle Vargo is an educational consultant and was elementary intervention specialist for over ten years in Dayton, Ohio. She has used Habits of Mind animations and lessons for her students both in the resource room and inclusive classrooms since their creation. Janelle has written lessons and articles for private educational companies as well as consulting with companies and school districts looking to make their interventions simple, efficient and meaningful to children. As a local business owner of Two Birds Artwork which specializes in custom artwork and art classes for kids through adults, Janelle strives to incorporate multi-sensory creative learning opportunities for young students who are often bored and uninterested in school. She and her husband also run The Athletic Proving Grounds in their hometown which houses workout groups for adults, speed groups for 5th grade and up, and Sport differentiated training for student athletes. Through these experiences, she seeks to instill a “beyond the test” mentality in her students where they are able to participate in activities that engage imagination, movement, problem solving, and perseverance. She can be contacted at janelle.vargo@yahoo.com