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5 Important Reasons and Methods to Nurture Flexible Thinking in Your Child
In collaboration with Nestlé Start Healthy Stay Healthy.
Imagine that you could no longer use the same route home one day! What would you do? You’d find an alternate way to get home, right? That’s what flexible thinking is all about, being able to quickly figure out a way that’s different from the usual.
Kids with thinking differences tend to struggle with flexible thinking and that can have an impact on their ability to learn. Luckily, there are some foolproof ways to develop and nurture flexible thinking from an early age!
Cognitive flexibility or flexible thinking refers to the ability to adapt our thinking and behaviour in response to the circumstances surrounding us. When children are asked to change their approach to solving a problem, or think about multiple concepts simultaneously, they need to display flexible thinking. Flexible thinking is an important aspect of executive functioning, which includes the mental processes that enable one to focus attention, plan, and remember instructions while performing multiple tasks simultaneously.
Sounds complicated? In a nutshell -
Flexible thinking allows a child to think on the spot and look at things differently.
It enables “unlearning” of known ways of doing things, making room for new ways.
It is an important ability when it comes to learning, both academically and in life.
Why Flexible Thinking Is Important for Your Child
While we’ve established that flexible thinking plays a major role in a child’s ability to learn, it also helps them in adjusting to new information. Flexibility also comes in handy in social situations and while dealing with peers. It is an important part of a child’s ability to shift between activities. It helps them deal with changing expectations and disappointments and cope with unforeseen changes in routines and events.
For example, at school, in a Maths class, flexible thinking will help your child come up with a new strategy to solve a maths problem, because his mind is open to trying more than one way to solve the problem. At the same time, a rigid thinker would only follow the solution steps given in the textbook.
When it comes to unfamiliar situations too, a child with good cognitive flexibility will deal with the situation easily. For example, a rigid thinker would feel dejected if a Physical Education class must be conducted indoors due to heavy rains. In contrast, a flexible thinker would find ways to make the most out of the situation.
Kids with weaker flexible thinking skills tend to have trouble understanding grammar rules and pronouncing words correctly. They have also been shown to have difficulty with certain math concepts and with their reading skills.
This makes it important to pay attention to nurturing and guiding your child in the right manner.
5 Ways to Nurture Flexible Thinking in Your Child
Mindful practices and exercises can make a world of a difference in nurturing flexible thinking. Kids are efficient at learning when it comes through creative ways. Try these strategies to help your little one move away from rigid thinking and adopt a more flexible approach to dealing with situations.
1. Encourage going with the flow.
When there is an unforeseen change in the course of a moment or a day, go steady, stay calm, and actively accept the change. Talk about it to your child, exposing him to your thought process. You can say something like, “Oops! It looks like the park has been temporarily closed. Let’s come up with a new plan!” We’re not saying that you will always get it right. But such opportunities will keep coming your way, so give it a go when you can.
2. Ensure your child eats a healthy diet.
Along with other mindful practices, a diet rich in essential nutrients will complement your efforts to nurture your child’s flexible thinking.
3. Spend time outdoors.
Nature is both soothing and stimulating at the same time. It is always changing and unpredictable, offering different sights, sounds, sensations, and smells. This is perfect as it provides welcoming and abundant opportunities for your child to shift his focus and exercise his cognitive flexibility. Such opportunities are seldom found in an indoor environment.
4. Play games by changing the rules.
You can ask your child to come up with or design his own board/card game with his own set of rules. He can even make up his rules for an existing game. Such games are fun and challenging for all who play them. This activity is efficient as it teaches your child how to adjust. Your child is bound to be super excited and eager to think more flexibly.
5. Try out new things.
You and your child can do something different that you both have never tried before. For example, together you either can play a new sport, try different cuisines, or listen to a new genre of music. This is an effective way to encourage your child to explore different experiences and thus, enhance his cognitive flexibility.
Cognitive flexibility brings about positivity in children and encourages them to manage life changes without any panic, fear, and confusion. In today’s day and age, flexible thinking is important to master as it is a driving force in your children’s development, success at school, and when he works with others in the future. In the words of Charles Darwin – “It is not the strongest of the species, nor the most intelligent who survive, but the one most responsive to change.”
In case of any questions or clarifications regarding your baby’s nutrition or development, do get in touch with your paediatrician. Read more
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Priyanka jangir
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Ideas to Plan Your Child's 1st Birthday Party on Budget
Parents are always on the hunt for budget-friendly birthday party ideas for their one-year-old. No matter how hard they look, they rarely come across ideas that don’t make them look average. Understanding that the budget can be kept in control by making some out of the box decisions can help frame a low-cost birthday party as a unique and interesting one, for everybody that joins in to wish your child.
Budget-Friendly First Birthday Party Ideas
When organising a budget-friendly birthday party for your child’s first birthday, there are numerous areas that you can make adjustments in to keep the costs low, and the element of fun just as high as before.
Party Themes
When starting off on a series of less expensive 1-year-old birthday party ideas, the theme of the party itself can be quite a big saver. If your set up a cartoon themed party where everyone dresses up to match the theme, you will end up setting up a party that is heavy on your wallet. Instead, choose a simple theme like “colours” or “all blues” without a specific context, so that you need not set up numerous activities to back up a complex theme.
Decoration Ideas
One of the major ways to save up on costs is to choose the theme of the party carefully. This is because the cost of decorations will majorly depend on it. Avoid investing in items that can be used just once. Opt for generic items for birthdays that don’t mention any particular year or date as such. You can always customise them at home. Balloons and ribbons are classic items that never go out of style. If you have any decorative material from your previous festivities, now is the time to get them out. Any lights you use for Diwali or other items can be used for a birthday as well. If you do need to purchase any decorative items, choose them such that they can be used for any other occasion, too. Borrow some from your friends, too.
Invitation Ideas
Party invitations can easily creep up on your list of expenses without realisation. With digital communication being prevalent, make the best of it and forge some cute digital invitation cards for your guests. You could email these or even use chats to send them personally to each of those. If you are keeping a highly intimate party, invest in normal quality paper cards and get some cute ideas off the Internet to decorate them. Use your child’s palm as the welcome print and scribble a nice invitation over it. You could post these cards, give them to people in person, or simply use them as a memoir when your guests come to the party.
Venue Ideas
Putting together your child’s first birthday on a budget comes across a major obstacle in the form of a venue choice. Every parent wants to make the first birthday a massive celebration of every kind. The size of the venue depends heavily on the number of guests that would be coming over, as well as any activities that might have been planned for the kids to keep them engaged throughout the party. Knowing this, make sure your guest list is restricted only to the near and dear ones and keep track of how many kids might show up to the party. If you have a large home, you can demarcate areas of the terrace or the backyard for dining and games. Check if your friends can rent their guesthouses or other locations for a low price.
Cake Ideas
The cake is the centrepiece of the birthday party; apart from your child, of course. Having a special cake is where the fun is at, but getting a nice customised cake for your child is not feasible, especially if you plan on distributing the same cake to all the guests coming to the party as well. Thankfully, there are nice alternatives to this. You can opt for a small cake that is specially made for your child. Let the cake be cut during the celebrations and reserve it purely for your little one and for the kids. Get another large cake for the guests that need not be customised or expensive. You can also invest in simple, delicious cupcakes. A better option is to go to the market and purchase the ingredients required to bake the cake. Get an oven or a pan from your friend and make a large cake that can satisfy guests easily. Not only will it be cheap on your wallet but your relatives and friends will have words of praise for your cooking skills as well.
Food Menu On a Budget
Putting together the menu for 1st birthday party food is where all the thinking seems to meet a dead end. Every guest is going to eat food and there cannot be any disregard when it comes to that. Going for an all-out buffet can burn a big hole in your pocket because the billing is usually per plate and kids don’t end up eating as much food as adults. There are multiple ways to control the cost out here. Firstly, you can try and keep the birthday party at a time that doesn’t clash with lunch or dinner. A late afternoon can help you organise a party that includes some beverages and snacks. If at all you do choose to organise a late night one, focus on starters or snack items that are reasonable and can be prepared quickly. These will be devoured immediately by kids and guests. The main course can be kept light, with options like biryani or Chinese food, both of which are tasty and easy on your wallet.
Party Games
Organizing party games and pocket-friendly 1st birthday party ideas may not always go hand in hand for most parents. However, this is the best way to ensure a budget party. Most parents opt for organising party-related shows for adults and children, which may include magic tricks, karaoke night, or card games. These require a host to be present, various props to be purchased and a lot of time to be invested, all of which add to astronomical costs. At the same time, children rarely like to sit in one place for extended durations. Before long, they will be running around and playing games of their own with each other. Let adults mingle around with each other or play antakshari and other games with each other. For kids, it is best to get some mini props on rent or jumping beds that can spread around the venue and have a great time all by themselves.
Party Favours
A party might be temporary but it becomes a permanent fixture in the memory when your guests have party favours to take back home and remember it by. These return gifts are the most challenging of all since these can immediately be looked down as cheap and useless if you don't pay attention to them. Putting these together for all guests and kids can take up a major portion of your party budget and leave barely anything for the things that matter. Come up with creative ideas that can be used in multiple ways to add to the shine of the party. Rent a small Polaroid camera and take photos of guests with the babies. These photos can then be used as a party favour and can be taken home. Put together a tiny bag of items such as crayons, play dough or interesting keychains that can double up like a toy and can be used by kids.
Coming up with affordable first birthday party ideas is not difficult, but it is challenging to choose the ones that can still keep the party special and cherished by everyone. Creativity is your friend here and some great ideas can emerge from a restricted budget.
Also Read: Stunning Return Gifts for 1st Birthday of Your Baby Read more
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Rashmi has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due in 5 months
15 hours ago
Q. I got faint line all my pregnancy test and I missed my periods for 10 days but USG and TVs test confirm there is no pregnancy is there any chance that it is very early stage that's why it is not visible???? or TVs test is the last thing that can tell that really there is no pregnancy
Read moreRashmi
Mom of a 9 yr 7 m old girl
15 hours ago
A. I think it would be advisable for you to get an ultrasound done with your doctor that’s going to give you a clarity because if there is a pregnancy it would be visible at least at least that sack is visible if it’s a regular pregnancy so it would be advisable to have a test with your doctor
Dr. Minal Acharya has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
11 hours ago
Q. mere twins baby girl and boyhai one month 8 days old kya mai ghutti de sakte hun ya gripe water de sakte hun aur kab se start kar sakte hun
Dr. Minal Acharya
Nutritionist
11 hours ago
A. dear Mum, you should not give any sort of gripe water or ghutti to your baby. these are unhealthy and dangerous and can cause infection to your baby. so, these should be completely avoided.
Dr Vandan H Kumar has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
11 hours ago
Q. I am currently 32 week pregnant.I recently had growth scan.mu baby is in cephalic presentation. Does this change as I approach my due date. Also my EDD is July 25 and EDC is July 2. what is my expected due date. Also what is EDC?
Dr Vandan H Kumar
Paediatrician
11 hours ago
A. edc is expected date of delivery only.
that is 40 weeks
You will get more information for your query with your family doctor. You may meet your dr in person for proper guidance .
It is important to remain in contact with your doctor.
Swati Kar Samanta has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due in 7 months
11 hours ago
Q. why I am getting dizziness in my pregnancy
I am going with 3rd month of my pregnancy it's a very strong dizziness I feel at times means every day .....no other symptoms of pregnancy .Please help with elaboration .All okay means isn't part of this journey.
Read moreSwati Kar Samanta
Mom of a 2 m old girl
49 mins ago
A. Do consult your doctor as soon as you can. It's important to find the real reason because without that, proper medication is not possible.
Dr Priyanka Kalra has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
11 hours ago
Q. I am currently 32 week pregnant and had growth scan recently.My baby is in cephalic presentation.does this change after 36 week or does this remain the same?
Dr Priyanka Kalra
Obstetrician and Gynaecologist
3 hours ago
A. usually fixed. better to show to specialist always as they get the correct diagnosis. try to avoid self and extra medication that will only complicate this and create more damage to the child
Rashmi has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
1 hour ago
Q. it's my 5 month n I still didn't went for check up yet not even once is it okay if I go now or?
Rashmi
Mom of a 9 yr 7 m old girl
1 hour ago
A. You should have started going from the very beginning itself once you get to know you’re pregnant but since you haven’t reached that now if you’re pregnancy has been healthy last five months please get it checked with your doctor also if you need to start with any supplements or diet the doctor would advise you after a ultrasound so please visit your gynaecologist
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