Different Skill Notebook on Cognitive Flexibility

Cognitive Flexibility:

Flexing your Brain to Learn 

 

Welcome to the different skill notebook podcast! These are different times requiring different tools and skills. 

In this episode, we will define cognitive flexibility an executive function skill that allows one to move freely from one situation to another and to think flexibly in order to respond appropriately to the situation. 

• helps us to sustain or shift attention in response to different demands or to apply different rules in different settings

I cannot think of a more important skill in this current time.  Where different demands arise frequently and quickly.  Skill limitation in flexibility will considerably impact a child's overall success across environments.

Story: 

Adam is a client who is intelligent, eloquent, and technology savvy. He can really captivate the attention of peers with his technological knowledge and gaming success. When a peer or peers would like to move on to another activity or topic of conversation there is an exaggerated reaction from Adam.  This makes Adam appear to his peers as very controlling and bossy. This discourages peers from engaging Adam.  Adam is always on his own agenda and has now been taught to transition with peers more frequently and with ease. It is difficult for him to change gears but not impossible. The more opportunities and practice the easier it will be to shift gears. 

Shifting the agenda is something that has to be continuously and repetitively introduced. An important strategy to implement is to limit the amount of time that Adam spends on his preferred activity in order to expand his interests and expose him to new activities that he can share with his peers. It is important to expose to other peer interests this gives advance notice and prepares the child to receive an invitation to participate in a different activity. This is why increasing flexibility requires the continual introduction of different perspectives and activities. 

Also noting that the preferred activity can evolve into a career opportunity so the limiting of time spent in this preferred area should be to encourage exposure to other activities and experiences. The preferred activity is a source of escape for Adam from the challenges that experience daily as a result of his different kind of mind.  

Thank you for listening please visit us at www.socialmindcenter.com for more different skill notebook pages.