94 EF Series: Cognitive Flexibility - Why Perfectionism and Inflexible Thinking Go Hand in Hand

Kids with Big Emotions Podcast

Website: 🌐 www.andiclark.com

Support Circle Membership: https://andiclark.thrivecart.com/support-circle/

Intake Form for Executive Function Series: https://andiclark.com/assess-emotions/

Show notes

Does your child struggle with changes in routine, perfectionism, or adapting to new perspectives? In this episode, Andi dives into cognitive flexibility—what it is, why it matters, and how it impacts your child’s emotional growth and executive functioning. Learn practical strategies to support your child in developing this crucial skill and gain insights into how cognitive inflexibility manifests in everyday situations.

Join Andi as she shares relatable examples, personal stories, and actionable tips to help your child adapt, manage transitions, and thrive.

Key Takeaways:

1. Understanding Cognitive Flexibility: The ability to adapt to new information, changes, or unexpected challenges is essential for navigating social dynamics, managing transitions, and solving problems.
2. The Role of Perception, Attention, and Inhibition: Foundational skills like working memory and attention play a significant role in cognitive flexibility.
3. Perfectionism and Inflexibility: Fear of mistakes often stems from trauma or learned behaviors, impacting children’s willingness to try new things or accept feedback.
4. Modeling Mistakes: Parents can help children by verbalizing their own mistakes and demonstrating adaptive responses.
5. Cognitive Flexibility Isn’t One-Size-Fits-All: Every child’s challenges are unique, and solutions should be tailored to their specific needs.

Episode Highlights with Timestamps:

• [00:00] Introduction: What is cognitive flexibility, and why does it matter?
• [00:02] Everyday Examples: How rigidity shows up in transitions, routines, and social interactions.
• [00:06] Social Media and Polarized Thinking: The impact of algorithms on cognitive inflexibility.
• [00:08] Perfectionism in Kids: Stories of how fear of mistakes affects learning and play.
• [00:13] Foundational Skills: The role of perception, attention, and inhibition in building flexibility.
• [00:18] Practical Strategies: Using modeling to normalize mistakes and build adaptability.
• [00:31] Intake Form Questions: Identifying where your child struggles with cognitive flexibility.
• [00:38] A Simple Strategy: How parents can model resilience and adaptability for their children.
• [00:41] Closing and Resources: How to explore more resources in the Support Circle.

Resources Mentioned:

Book Recommendation: Switch by Chip Heath and Dan Heath—an exploration of problem-solving and adaptive thinking. https://heathbrothers.com/books/switch/