Flexibility of thinking / shift
Adapting to change, transitioning between activities, and/or revising plans when faced with new information, obstacles, or setbacks
Indicators of challenges
In the classroom, a CYP may have difficulty moving from one activity to another. They may have difficulty coming into the classroom from outside. A CYP may struggle when there is an unexpected change to the usual routine. May struggle to approach a task in different ways (cognitive flexibility).
Recommended Strategies
- Tell me about changes before they happen and give me time to think about them so that I feel ready and calm.
- Use a picture board to show what I am doing now and what I will do next so that I know what is happening.
- Explain what is changing and what it means for me so I understand and feel less worried.
- Read me stories (e.g. social stories) that show how to deal with change so that I can handle different situations.
- Help me learn things like taking deep breaths or sitting in my favourite seat so I can feel calm when things change.
- Decide with me how to move from one place to another, like holding a special object or using a list, so that it feels easier.