Introduction

In this blog post, we will explore the skills of being flexible and adaptable, which are essential components of Social-Emotional Learning. Being flexible means that we can adapt to changes and not get upset, while being rigid means that we get frustrated when things change or when people don’t want to do what we want. The ability to be flexible and adaptable is crucial for young learners as they navigate the world around them and interact with others. We will present an engaging activity that requires no preparation, followed by discussion questions, related skills, and next steps for educators.

No-Prep Activity: Two Sides

In this activity, educators present various situations to the students and ask them to identify if the person in the situation is being flexible or rigid. Here’s how the game works:

1. Divide the students into two teams.
2. Present a situation to the class. For example, “Sam wants to play with the blocks, but his friend wants to play with the dolls. Sam decides to play with the dolls to make his friend happy.”
3. Each team will discuss and decide if the person in the situation is being flexible or rigid.
4. After a minute, ask each team for their answer. Award a point to the team that correctly identifies the behavior as flexible or rigid.
5. Continue with more situations, keeping score until a predetermined number of points is reached or a set amount of time has passed.

This activity encourages students to analyze and evaluate behaviors, helping them understand the importance of being flexible and adaptable in various situations.

Discussion Questions

After the activity, use these questions to stimulate further discussions:

• Why is it important to be flexible and adaptable in different situations?
• Can you think of a time when you had to be flexible? How did it make you feel?
• What strategies can we use to be more flexible and adaptable?
• How can being flexible and adaptable help us in our relationships with others?
• What are some challenges we might face when trying to be more flexible and adaptable?

Related Skills

In addition to flexibility and adaptability, there are other related skills that students can benefit from developing:

• Empathy: Understanding and sharing the feelings of others can help students become more flexible and adaptable in their interactions.
• Problem-solving: Being able to find solutions to challenges and conflicts requires flexibility and adaptability.
• Communication: Effective communication skills can help students express their needs and understand the needs of others, leading to more flexible and adaptable behavior.
• Self-awareness: Recognizing and understanding their emotions and reactions can help students become more flexible and adaptable in their responses to different situations.

Next Steps

If you’re interested in exploring more activities and resources to help your PreK students develop flexibility, adaptability, and other essential Social-Emotional Learning skills, we invite you to sign up for free sample materials at Everyday Speech. Our comprehensive library offers a wide range of engaging resources designed to support educators in fostering the social-emotional development of their students.