Be flexible

• Be flexible and open to new ideas and approaches.

Flexible problem solving, a cognitive skill crucial for handling information that may be irrelevant to current goals but was relevant in similar past situations, is significant in cognitive development. Research in this area, spanning from infancy to school years, lacks a cohesive framework, obscuring when this ability emerges. Studies suggest that the development of flexible problem solving is linked with improvements in executive functions, including inhibition, working memory, and task switching. Most research has focused on managing non-salient, irrelevant information, with less emphasis on generalizing in the presence of salient but irrelevant information. Identifying the developmental timeline of this skill is important for enhancing educational approaches and understanding its role in navigating information-rich societies.

Read more in: Bobrowicz, K. and Thibaut, J.P., 2023. The Development of Problem Solving: An Integrative Approach. Journal of Intelligence, 11(6), p.119.

Available at: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-3200/11/6/119