Your dad is supposed to pick you up from school, but he calls and says he is running late and now you have to wait. You are frustrated. What can you say to yourself to be a flexible thinker?
He'll be here soon. I can think of something to do while I wait.
You are playing games with a friend. You really want to play checkers but your friend wants to play monopoly. You hate monopoly. How can you be a flexible thinker? What can you say to yourself?
Compromise with your friend. Take turns. I can handle playing monopoly for a little while. I can handle waiting to play checkers.
Your teacher tells you that free time is over and it is time to move on to science. You are angry because you wanted to keep doing what you were doing. What can you say to yourself to be a flexible thinker?
I've got to follow directions to earn my points. I can go back to free time after I finish my work. I'll take deep breaths to stay calm.
You are supposed to do your schoolwork on your laptop, but it suddenly stops working. Your teacher tells you do to your work on paper instead. You are feeling very frustrated. What can you say to yourself to be a flexible thinker?
I can still do well on my work without my laptop. My laptop will get fixed eventually.
Can you control other people's actions?
No, I can only control me. So I need to be flexible when others do things I don't like.
Your teacher lets your class vote on what to do for free time. You wanted to go outside but the rest of your classmates voted to watch a movie instead. What can you say to yourself to be a flexible thinker?
It's just for a little while. I can go outside when I get home instead. I can't control the teacher or the class, I can only control me.
There is a snow day and now you have to do school online instead of in person. You are really annoyed. What can you say to yourself to be a flexible thinker?
It's just one day. I've gotten through virtual snow days before. There is nothing I can do about the snow so I will just go with the flow.
You didn't earn one of your points at school. You are feeling very mad. What can you say to yourself to be a flexible thinker and calm down?
It's just one point. I still have time to earn many more points. I can take deep breaths to calm down.
How do people feel when we are "stuck" in our thinking?
People may feel confused, annoyed, or disappointed. We are more fun to be around when we are flexible.
Your mom tells you that you have to do your chores before you can play video games. You think that's a stupid rule and wish you could do your chores later. What can you say to yourself to be a flexible thinker?
The faster I finish my chores, the sooner I can go back to video games. At least then I won't have to worry about them later.
Your teacher rearranges the seats in the classroom and now you have to sit in a different chair. You are annoyed. What can you say to yourself to be a flexible thinker?
I can handle change. I need to follow directions to earn my points. Maybe I'll like my new seat. I can't control what the teacher does, I can only control me.
What does it mean to "go with the flow"?
Be relaxed and go along with the situation, even when we don't like it.
Your teacher tells you that your schedule has changed for the day. You are feeling mad and stressed. What can you say to yourself to be a flexible thinker?
It's just one day. I can handle this. I'll take deep breaths to stay calm.
You were supposed to go camping this weekend, but it's going to storm. Your trip get cancelled and you are very sad. What can you say to yourself to be a flexible thinker?
I can find something else fun to do instead. We can go camping another time.
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