Superflex – is this a good program for my child?
by Stephanie Madrigal and Michelle Garcia Winner
Comic Book by Stephanie Madrigal/Illustrated by Kelly Knopp
Superflex is a behavioral program that addresses some of the educational psychology and behavioral issues that our children struggle with on a daily basis. There could be a number of different ways of explaining this program. The authors describe it as follows:-
Superflex®: A Superhero Social Thinking Curriculum provides educators, parents and therapists fun and motivating ways to teach students with Asperger Syndrome, high-functioning autism, ADHD and other diagnosed and undiagnosed social difficulties how to build social thinking skills. Superflex combines a book, comic book and CD to create a curriculum that develops in each student’s brain their own superheroic thinking processes that can overcome the challenges in different social situations that arrive across the school and home day.
Most of us can identify a number of behaviors that are commonplace amongst our children, which may be broadly identified as inflexible and can often become major hurdles to address on a daily basis. They are often the cause of a great deal of unhappiness and angst. Rigid behavioral responses can be a significant barrier to living a full and enjoyable life. Due to copyright issues I won’t reproduce or explain the main role of the different characters involved in Superflex and the rogues who attack him, the Unthinkables, but once they have been mastered [over many weeks if not months] then it is entirely possible to invent characters who more exactly match other situations, more finely tailored to our own children.
Around here it’s a question of recognizing our own intolerance of some issues. To take a handy example we could tackle the matter of hygiene – my unwashed, filthy hands and revolting personal habits, do not spread germs nor make you ill, but you are oblivious to your own runny nose which will surely kill me. If we can both learn to recognize how our respective behaviors affect each other, then that’s progress – we need that recognition. That’s part of the flexible thinking approach. Then we move on to look for strategies to alleviate the situation.
Another [local] example would be how you cannot stand the smell of bananas, my favorite snack, but I will retch at the stench of Jif, peanut butter, your favorite snack. You need to understand that I will die, now, if I can’t banana. I don’t care how much you want to eat peanut better – it’s disgusting. Bit of an impasse really since we live in the same house and eat together in the same room. The solution is simple – you go and live somewhere else and eat your disgusting food out of my sensory range. Pity your solution is the same for me. We need a different tactic. I recognize my own feelings and someone might point out that your feelings are an exact match. It’s a startling realization. Then, it’s only a few small steps to think up different ways of dealing with the problem and finding a compromise. From that point, it’s then much easier to extrapolate from that one situation to extend it to other similar situations, especially when they are successful experiences. Unlikely as it may seem, flexibility and tolerance can be learned.
Your children may not be ready for this yet, just as mine weren’t in earlier years, but it’s always a good idea to look ahead. You can buy it at Amazon.http://www.amazon.com/Superflex-Superhero-Social-Thinking-Curriculum/dp/0979292247/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1284309692&sr=8-1
September 13th, 2010 at 12:13 am
That sounds like a great concept and method!
So often we forget our ASD kids don’t relise they’re a part of a whole, they see themselves as separate to those around them so any way of painting a clearer picture for them to utilise is good
.-= Ro´s last blog ..When teen geeks gather in groups =-.
September 13th, 2010 at 5:54 am
It looks interesting and kids do love superheroes!
.-= Stephanie´s last blog ..Looking to the Future =-.
September 13th, 2010 at 5:55 am
So, can I take it there are going to be no peanut butter and bannana sandwiches at your house? Or was that their example?
.-= Stephanie´s last blog ..Looking to the Future =-.
September 13th, 2010 at 9:16 am
I love the sound of this and will pass it onto my sis!!
.-= Casdok´s last blog ..Sleep Deprivation =-.
September 13th, 2010 at 12:57 pm
I shall have to look into this: social inflexibility is a real problem for us, and we really want to do a better job with friends. I am always looking for new ways to explain and train. Thanks!
September 13th, 2010 at 4:22 pm
I was a bit skeptical when one of the teachers at Buddy Boy’s school introduced this to him about midway into third grade (when he was almost 9). This couldn’t possibly work (I thought).
Well, well. Eat a little crow, Joe. While not being a panacea (the thing about panaceas is that no one’s really seen one, eh?) many (including us) have seen how Buddy Boy has internalized the description of these characters (similar to how he identifies with Pokemon?), and in doing so is able to reference them when he is “stuck”. Teachers (and sometimes us) will ask him when he’s perseverating on something and getting ramped up, “Which character do you think you are right now?” “Rock Brain”, he says. The act of referencing the characters seems to give him the time and perspective to look at himself, instead of getting caught in the moment.
It doesn’t always work, and isn’t perfect, but it has been great for us, and more importantly, Buddy Boy.
Joe
.-= Club 166´s last blog ..TV Psychologist Gets It Right =-.
September 13th, 2010 at 6:02 pm
It feels like forever since I have visited you – and how great that you posted about SuperFlex. This has been on my list of things to do and now I can just point people to you!
Michael loves this program, which his private OT started this summer. It is right up his alley in terms of the superhero analogy (we are drowning in Power Rangers and Ben 10 aliens here!).
They basically just talked about Rockbrain all summer, with a bit of Glassman thrown in for good measure. Now I just have to get the OT at school to stop being offended that I went to a private therapist and take a look at the program for herself.
.-= Trish´s last blog ..Reasonable Expectations Poll Results =-.
September 14th, 2010 at 8:50 am
Interesting. Thanks for the tip.
By the way, happily, copyright does nit extend to ideas, systems, names of characters, and so on. You can describe the contents of a book as much as you like (think of book reviews) as long as you do not quote very long passages verbatim.
September 15th, 2010 at 8:13 pm
Great book suggesting. I’m going to look into it for my girls.
.-= Marita´s last blog ..Blogers =-.
September 21st, 2010 at 7:54 pm
Just wanted to comment that as a teacher I use materials from Michelle Garcia Winner and I really like them. She seems to have a real grasp on helping with social needs and doing it in a positive way. I always recommend her products to other teachers. I have not used Superflex but have considered it, I am not sure it is currently appropriate for the age group I work with but in the future I may order it.
October 15th, 2010 at 7:14 am
This is very interesting, I will have to keep in mind for my son!
.-= Michelle´s last blog ..Importance of Parent Involvement at the Special Needs School =-.
October 15th, 2010 at 7:17 am
When you say that children may be to young to be ready for this, my son is twelve … that is old enough, isn’t it?
.-= Michelle´s last blog ..Importance of Parent Involvement at the Special Needs School =-.