Once my clients have a solid understanding of this concept, I like to bring in real life examples that they have told me or that have been shared by parents or teachers. I ask my clients “Is the boy a flexible or stuck thinker? How do you know?” This video demonstrates flexible thinking. I also try to focus on how other people feel around the “stuck thinker.” What are peoples’ thoughts and feelings when someone is not being very flexible? Do people feel happy or sad or mad? Do they feel uncomfortable or comfortable? Do they want to be around this person or avoid them? Is it fun or not fun to play with someone who is always a stuck thinker? I like to use kid-friendly videos that demonstrate what it looks like to not be a flexible thinker and then brainstorm with my clients what the person in the video could do differently next time. However, if we are flexible and try new things, we might end up even liking it.

I Just Don’t Like the Sound of No by Julia CookĪ concept that many of these books have in common is that sometimes, we don’t want to try new things if they don’t follow our original plan.Bread and Jam for Frances by Russell Hoban.Marigold Bakes A Cake by Mike Malbrough.My Day is Ruined!: A Story For Teaching Flexible Thinking by Bryan Smith.Pete the Cat I Love My White Shoes by Eric Litwin.If you don’t have access to Social Thinking materials, here are some other fantastic books that help to teach the concept of flexible thinking: Superflex Takes on Rock Brain And the Team of Unthinkables, another book from the Social Thinking series, teaches children all about using their “superflex skills” to defeat their “team of unthinkables” that sometimes take over their brain and reduce their flexible thinking skills. For example, when the students can’t agree on which direction to drive, all of their brains appear to be physically stuck and then their car gets stuck too. flexible thinkers by comparing stuck thoughts to actually being physically stuck. This story book teaches children about being stuck vs. Book #3 in We Thinkers Volume 2 (which should be read after We Thinkers Volume 1 and Books #1 and #2 of Volume 2) is called Flexible and Stuck Thinking. If you are an SLP or other educator that is lucky to have access to the Social Thinking curriculum, there are some incredible books on this topic. For a lesson plan on teaching flexible thinking, check out my guest post on The Dabbling Speechie’s website.

A beautiful oops lesson plan