What is Flexibility?

Posted In Skills On January 11, 2025

Flexibility, a critical component of executive functioning, plays a vital role in a student’s ability to adapt, learn, and thrive in an ever-changing environment. Defined as the capacity to adjust to new conditions by revising plans or switching strategies, flexibility empowers students to navigate setbacks, process new information, and tackle obstacles with resilience. When students master this skill, they can modify plans without distress, accept alternatives when their first choice isn’t available, and employ multiple solutions to solve problems.

Students who struggle with flexible thinking often experience frustration when faced with changes. They may become fixated on a single activity, find transitions between tasks challenging, or feel upset when topics or plans shift. These students may repeatedly use ineffective strategies to solve problems, leading to disappointment and stress.

For teachers working with students from grades 1 to 12, incorporating executive function instruction into the classroom can transform these challenges into opportunities for growth. Teaching executive function skills not only improves students’ academic performance but also boosts their confidence and social skills. Here’s how educators can support flexibility development while addressing student learning needs:

Setting Goals for Flexibility

Developing flexible thinking skills requires intentionality. Consider setting specific goals regarding:

• Transitioning smoothly between activities and routines.
• Adapting to changes in schedules, topics, and expectations.
• Exploring new problem-solving approaches and stepping outside comfort zones.

Strategies to Build Flexibility

Incorporate Executive Function Tools

Tools like timers, visual schedules, and checklists can help students anticipate transitions and reduce anxiety about the unknown. These executive functioning tools provide structure and empower students to adapt with greater ease.

Model Flexible Thinking

Teachers can demonstrate adaptability in real-time by sharing their thought processes when plans change or obstacles arise. Modeling shows students that thinking flexibly is not only valuable but achievable.

Create Opportunities for Practice

Gradually expose students to small, manageable changes in routines or assignments. Celebrate their successes in adapting to build confidence and reduce resistance over time.

Foster a Safe Environment

Many students who struggle with thinking flexibly experience fear when faced with change. A supportive classroom environment, where mistakes are seen as learning opportunities, can encourage students to take risks and experiment with new strategies.

Discuss the Benefits of Flexible Thinking

Engage students in conversations about how adaptability leads to growth. Highlight examples of how looking at situations differently or trying alternative methods has led to positive outcomes.

Use Executive Function Lessons

Build flexibility lessons into your curriculum, focusing on scenarios where students can practice adapting to unexpected changes or solving problems with multiple solutions. These executive function lessons can address specific challenges students face while improving academic performance.

Understanding the Broader Impact

When students develop flexible thinking, they experience significant improvements in their learning and behavior. They engage more effectively with their peers, overcome challenges with greater confidence, and enhance their overall academic performance. Flexibility is not just about adjusting to change; it’s about empowering students to approach the world with curiosity, creativity, and resilience.

As part of a comprehensive executive function curriculum, teaching flexibility equips students with tools they’ll use throughout their lives. Addressing flexibility as part of solving executive function challenges also supports broader goals, including improving student engagement, self-regulation, and social interactions.

Additional Resources

To dive deeper into strategies for teaching executive function skills explore these resources:

• Eight Executive Function Skills Explained
• Modeling Flexibility: Practical Tips for Teachers