When 1+1 is not 2

How many days you start your day with a plan? How many ‘surprises’ you have on your way?


When we assess children's ability, we usually examine what they “know”. Their reading level, how many math computations they can do in a certain time, how many words they have in their vocabulary.

These are all tasks that have one right answer. IQ tests and other standardized tests examine how we do when all we need is a one right answer, even if it is a very complicated one, like the procedure needed in order to build a space shuttle. They require static intelligence.
Where to every stimulus there is one response.

Of course, we need static intelligence. We won’t be able to function without it. We need to memorize facts, to be able to do math computations, spelling, etc.

We cannot over think everything we need to say and when, that is why:

When I sneeze you will always say ‘bless you’

In the morning you will say good morning

And 1+ 1 will always be 2

Or not?

Many times we see individuals with a very high IQ score, which just don’t manage to hold a job, to have a relationship, to ‘get a life’.

That’s because real life problems do not come with a manual of possible right answers. Many times there are many possible answers; many times there is no right answer at all.

Real life problems require dynamic, flexible thinking. Ability to see the shades of grey. The ability to rapidly adapt, change strategies and alter plans based on changing circumstances.

You need to look at things from multiple perspectives( to understand that others have different perspectives, to be able to look through different prisms on a problem

You need to use good enough thinking (I cannot spend the rest of my life thinking about something, right?!)

You need to use relative thinking ( today is cold but yesterday was colder)

Many children on the autism spectrum have static skills; some of them have very high IQ. However, it is the dynamic skills, the ability to monitor adapt and regulate yourself to changes around you that we want to encourage and develop.

The goal of RDI is to build and develop dynamic abilities. Only with dynamic abilities will we be able to assist our kids into becoming competent adults.

So how many surprises did you have today?