Cognitive flexibility is the last of three major skills
involved in executive function. Cognitive flexibility is the skill that allows
your child’s brain to switch from one thing to the other quickly or to see a
problem in a new light.
The picture to the left shows an example of a problem that needs
cognitive flexibility. The Candle
Problem is an experiment conducted by Karl Duncker in 1945. Participants were
to use only these tools to attach a candle to the wall so that the lit the
candle would not drip wax on the wall.
Most people could not get it because
they did not see the box that held the tacks as an available tool. If you tack
the box to the wall, it will serve as a shelf to hold the candle. Cognitive
flexibility lets you see the box as more than the container for tacks – it is
also one of the tools available to solve the problem.
Children use cognitive flexibility when they read, and it
allows them to develop reading fluency and strong comprehension skills. Readers
have to be able to quickly go back and forth between decoding words and paying
attention to the content. Children also
use cognitive flexibility when they problem solve with authentic problems.
Authentic problems are the kind where the answer is not in the back of the
book.
Here are some home activities that can increase cognitive
flexibility:
Family Meals When
children help to plan, fix, and clean up family meals they have many small
opportunities to problem solve. When
children are first learning these skills, resist the temptation to answer
questions or solve problems for them quickly. Let them try first and only step
in with a hint if they are on the wrong track.
Role Play Stories
Acting out a story will add fun to reading and will promote better reading
skills by strengthening cognitive flexibility. Solving problems on how to
create a simple costume will add to the fun and brain power. For something
different, show your child how to read a story with silly voices, and then
encourage your child to try.
Cooperative Board Games
There are some new board games out there where players do not compete against
each other. Instead, the players form a team and compete against the game. PANDEMIC and FREEDOM: THE UNDERGROUND
RAILROAD are suitable for older children, while younger players will enjoy
FLASH POINT and RACE TO THE TREASURE.
Because everyone is working together, these make good family games
when there is a big age range. Cooperative games are all about helping your team members.
Building Projects
Encourage your children to attempt creative projects that involve design, building,
and problem-solving. The end result is great, but it is not the goal. The
journey is where your child will find the real reward of stronger brain skills.
