Flexibility is one of the hardest things for my family. My son loves the predictable, loves his routine, and can be extremely inflexible to things that are not in “his” plan. Flexibility is something we are always working on.
Sometimes things don’t go as expected and we can’t always control it. Flexibility is when we can change and adapt to new circumstances. When we are flexible, we don’t let our emotions take over. We figure out a new way to approach challenges. When we are flexible, we are open to the ideas of others. We can compromise to find a solution that works for everyone, or we can even change our minds and accept another’s idea entirely. When we are flexible, we can look critically at ourselves and make changes that make us better.
One of the best things about homeschooling is that I can adjust our school day to better suit my learners. Even though I know this, I also need to remind myself of that on a pretty regular basis. Like my son, I like a plan. My plan. I like following through on the plan. Sometimes flexibility feels like failure to me. We didn’t follow the plan. We got off track again. We fell behind. Again.
I’m learning that just because things don’t go as planned – our science experiment is a dud, no one wants to make origami, or our Handwriting Without Tears daily worksheet ends in tears – it doesn’t mean that nothing was learned. Teaching my kids to be flexible is one thing – but I also need to remember to be flexible in my thinking of success. Meeting my kids where they are, flexing and adjusting our learning to be what my kids need is one of the best benefits of homeschooling.
How have you been flexible in how you’ve implemented homeschooling this week? Or, if you’re not a homeschooler, how have you been flexible in your parenting?
In talking to my kids about flexibility, we read several living books featuring flexible characters. These are all wonderful stories! They cannot really be distilled down into one character virtue – that’s the mark of a great book! But I see flexibility as one theme in these stories. I hope you enjoy reading them with your kids!
Peter’s Chair by Ezra Jack Keats
Do you love the Snowy Day? Here is another book featuring Peter, the boy in the Snowy Day. In this story, Peter learns to be flexible with things he has outgrown to gift to his baby sister.
Mike Mulligan and the Steam Shovel by Virginia Lee Burton
This is a favourite story with a great big problem and a very clever solution. The characters are flexible in pivoting from the original plan to accommodate the new idea.
Something from Nothing by Phoebe Gilman
We love Phoebe Gilman books! She also wrote the Jillian Jiggs books I’ve recommended in previous posts. In this story, a boy is flexible as his favourite blanket is mended into a jacket, then a vest, then a tie, and smaller and smaller until there is nothing left but a story.
Are You Ready to Play Outside? by Mo Willems
Elephant and Piggie are two of my favourite characters. These books are great for toddlers, but also perfect to keep around for early readers, and useful even beyond these early years as inspiration for small skits two kids can do together.
In this story, Piggie and Elephant must be flexible with their plans as the weather changes.
Let’s go for a drive! by Mo Willems
Another Elephant and Piggie classic – these two learn to be flexible in their travel plans as circumstances change!
How can you be more flexible this week? How can you affirm your child when they are being flexible this week?
-Heather
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