Summer Challenge Week 5: House Rules and New Routes

The TGD

Welcome to Week 5 of our Summer Challenge! Today we are tackling a big one for neurodivergent brains: Flexibility.

When routines change or unexpected roadblocks pop up, it is easy for a brain to hit a wall. Flexibility is the antidote to rigidity. It is all about rewarding the brain for being stretchy and handling the unexpected. Here is how our team practiced taking things in stride this week.

Skill: Flexibility

• Definition: The ability to adapt to changed conditions or overcome obstacles.

• Why it matters: Building a stretchy mindset when the stakes are low makes it much easier to handle real-life disruptions without a meltdown.

Ed challenged cognitive rigidity by playing Uno with mid-game strategy shifts with his family. Halfway through the game, they introduced custom house rules like switching directions on a Wild card or exchanging all your cards with the player across from you. Changing the rules mid-stream forces players to reset their expectations on the fly and adapt without getting frustrated.

Tabitha and her husband Chris take route changes on their twice-weekly 5-mile walks to get a quick change of scenery. Instead of sticking to the same familiar path, they actively pick new streets and trails. Taking a new way home forces the brain to process fresh visual inputs, building comfort when things look or go differently than planned. An added bonus is learning new aspects of your neighborhood like the adorable and friendly chow chow in a new yard.

Your Turn to Play

How did your family practice taking a pivot in stride this week? Whether you tried a new food, shifted game rules halfway through, or adapted to a change in plans, we want to see it!

The Logistics

• Do the Work: Pick a weekly activity targeting this skill to earn your digital sticker.

• Show Us: Share a photo on Instagram or Facebook and tag @TGDCoach, or email your picture directly to our team.

• Explain the "Why": Include a quick note on why your activity counts toward that specific skill so we can see the science translate!

• The Reward: Collect all 12 skill stickers by the end of the summer to be automatically entered to win a free coaching session!

Want in? Just reply to this email to sign up. If you need some inspiration, reply with the word "PDF" and we will send over a list of practical suggestions.