Learning to Be Adaptable

We recently went on a wonderful cruise with friends around the Great Lakes. We didn't realize how small our cabin was going to be and when we opened the door, we realized it was going to be difficult for Jimmy and me to maneuver easily in that room! Our friends were equally surprised and disappointed.

However, instead of whining about it, we decided to make the best of it. And after only 24 hours, we all adapted to our surroundings and figured out how to be comfortable in a teeny-tiny room.

Learning to be adaptable involves embracing new experiences and challenges. It's the ability to recognize initial reactions and manage emotions. It's a skill that can be learned and developed beginning at an early age.

We can help our children and students view challenges as an opportunity to learn. We can help them understand the importance of maintaining a positive attitude and assist them to learn how to find the good in situations (small room but great shower).

We can provide our children and students with opportunities where they must be flexible and adjust to meet the demands of a situation. It's equally important to learn how to find solutions and new alternatives when faced with difficult or stressful situations.

Some ways adults can encourage problem solving with their children are:
1. Role Playing: Give children different scenarios and a time frame to solve them.
2. New Experiences: Provide opportunities for children to try new foods; take a different route to school; change routines at home.
3. Encourage Problem Solving: Don't solve a problem for your children. Work with them to figure out a solution together.
4. Be a Good Role Model: Children are always watching our reactions. Practice pausing and taking a deep breath when you are faced with a stressful situation.
5. Develop Plan A and Plan B: Discuss why it's important of have multiple options and create examples.
6. Use the PODE Scale (February 11, 2021 BLOG) to show how to put stressful situations in their proper perspective. The tiny cabin was really only a 1 on the PODE Scale!