Cognitive flexibility is an important thinking skill, typically defined as the ability to switch between thinking about two different concepts or being able to think about multiple concepts simultaneously. It is considered to be a critical executive function – part of a group of mental processes that enable us to plan and carry out tasks. 

When people get stuck in their thinking, they can have trouble “switching gears” and considering another way to approach a given task or problem. Getting stuck in certain (negative) thought patterns is also associated with psychological problems such as depression and anxiety. Thus, a tendency towards flexible vs. rigid thinking can facilitate problem-solving, but also can impact overall psychological adjustment. 

There are several ways to try to encourage cognitive flexibility in children; here are a few suggestions: 

1. Play! Any game that requires tracking different sets of rules and switching up your strategy will help to build cognitive flexibility. For example, Simon Says is a great game that taps into attention, inhibition, and cognitive flexibility, as the child has to track which rule to apply and switch actions, as appropriate. Organized sports also involve children’s ability to hold complicated rules and strategies in mind, monitor their own and others’ actions, make quick decisions, and respond flexibly. Other more informal activities that require improvisation are also great ways to practice thinking flexibly – for example taking a “regular” object and seeing how many different things you and your child can pretend it is. 

2. Switch it Up. As much as structure and routines are helpful to organize daily life and help kids know what to expect, doing everyday tasks differently is another way to build cognitive flexibility. Take a different route to school, eat meals backwards, switch roles while working on a task, change the order of the bedtime routine – the options are endless. If your child is resistant to changing their routine or doing something differently, it might help to explain why this is a good idea and/or to offer encouragement and incentives for doing it. 

3. Emphasize Perspective Taking. There are always a range of ways to think about and interpret the world around us. An event that brings sadness, disappointment, or frustration (a failed test, not making a travel soccer team, a canceled party) can also bring opportunities to do something new (talk to the teacher, try another sport, go out for ice cream).  Someone who bumps into us could be purposefully rude, could be rushing to get to an important meeting, or could be upset about something that just happened to them. Modeling and encouraging different ways to think about people and events in our day-to-day lives can help kids to develop better perspective-taking skills and guard against getting stuck in negative mindsets. 

The following online resources provide even more suggestions about age-appropriate activities that can help foster executive functioning skills generally, with some specific suggestions related to cognitive flexibility:

https://www.additudemag.com/how-to-improve-executive-function-adhd/

https://developingchild.harvard.edu/resources/activities-guide-enhancing-and-practicing-executive-function-skills-with-children-from-infancy-to-adolescence/.

Kathleen Boykin McElhaney, Ph.D.

Licensed Clinical Psychologist