Executive functions help us manage the tasks that we have to do - like paying attention, ignoring distractions, or following directions. These functions help pave the way for success, both in school and in life.
Executive Functioning Skills: Building Blocks for Success in School and Life
Executive Functioning Skills: Building Blocks for Success in School and Life
Whole Child Neuro
Does your child struggle with time management, organization, managing emotions and behavior, planning, and getting things done?
These tasks require what is known as Executive Functioning skills. Our brains are complex machines that can perform many functions. Executive functions help us manage the tasks that we have to do - like paying attention, ignoring distractions, or following directions. These functions help pave the way for success, both in school and in life.
What is executive functioning?
Executive functions are the mental skills that are required to help us meet goals and get things done. Executive functioning skills help us when planning what to wear for the day, completing assignments on time, remembering to take our medication, and staying on top of deadlines.
These skills don’t come easily to everyone. For those who are neurodivergent, like those with ADHD, executive function can be a struggle. Kids who struggle with executive functioning skills tend to be disorganized or have trouble managing their time to get things done. They may struggle to prioritize what to work on first or have a hard time following directions without getting distracted.
Here are some executive functioning skills that are important for daily life:
Paying attention
Ignoring distractions
Initiating tasks
Completing tasks
Prioritizing tasks
Planning and organization
Impulse control
Problem solving
Working memory
Cognitive flexibility
Set shifting
How does executive functioning develop?
We’re born with the foundation to develop executive functioning skills. These skills need to be practiced and developed over time, and there are different ways that executive functioning expands as a child gets older. We primarily learn executive functioning skills from our caregivers until we go to school, and they continue to develop from there.
How executive functioning skills help in school
To succeed academically, it’s important for children to be able to focus on a task, prioritize, and avoid distractions. These skills are helpful in paying attention during class, working in groups, completing homework, and preparing for exams.
These are skills that children are expected to have down pat by high school, although there is rarely classroom instruction in these skills for younger children. Not only do these skills help children succeed in school, they can help make school a more enjoyable experience for the child.
It’s very distressing to feel like you’re different or that you can’t keep up with the rest of the class. Kids who struggle with executive functioning deficits often feel behind or different, which can impact self esteem and cause them to dislike school.
How executive functioning skills help beyond school
Planning, organization, time management, and behavior management are all a part of adult life. Without executive functioning skills, it’s harder if not impossible to make decisions, to follow through on tasks, and do things that require multiple steps. These skills are all important building blocks to success personally and professionally. They help us succeed at work and meet our needs on a day to day basis.
When struggling with executive functioning skills, it can be harder to get good grades, get and keep a job, maintain social connections, and take care of yourself. It can feel like you’re constantly behind or like you missed the day in school when they taught you how to take care of yourself effectively.
Struggling with executive functioning can make it harder to get through daily life, because daily life requires a lot of executive functioning. This is why it’s important to build a foundation of executive functioning skills as a child. These building blocks can help pave the way for success and it’s helpful to start at an early age, both to increase success and to build confidence.
Does your child struggle with executive functioning skills? Here are some suggestions for how to support a child who struggles with executive functioning skills from our pediatric neuropsychologist:
Use tools
Checklists, timers, and planners can all make a difference to children with executive functioning deficits. It can be extremely tricky to hold onto all of the different threads that are required to function in everyday life. It’s helpful to use tools to make it easier to keep track of things!
You can help your child make a checklist for the different tasks they are required to complete each day to help guide them through the process and strengthen their executive functioning. Timers can help your child learn how long to spend on certain tasks, and help them switch to new ones more easily. Planners can help them visualize short and long term goals, and feel less disorganized.
Practice with them
It’s hard to learn how to develop executive functions, especially once your child already feels like they’re behind. To become comfortable utilizing their executive functioning skills, it’s important to practice. Practice with them as much as you can. Show them how you prioritize and initiate tasks. Help them find ways to develop systems to get things done, even if they don’t look like yours. Practice focusing attention and ignoring distractions, perhaps with a mindfulness practice or activity.
Explain why
For children who struggle with executive functioning, it can be helpful to explain why they should do something. When they understand the rationale behind what they need to do, they may feel more capable of getting it done. Children with lower executive functioning skills often feel overwhelmed by what they need to do and where to start, and they often feel behind. If they don’t understand the reasoning behind something, it will be easier for them to dismiss a task as not being worth their time.
Break things down
Kids who struggle with executive functioning often become overwhelmed when presented with a lot of information at once. When presented with large assignments, they may not know how or where to begin. This may then result in them avoiding the task altogether or procrastinating as long as possible. Help them by breaking large tasks down into more manageable chunks. Help them set smaller goals, so tasks are less overwhelming. Also support them in creating a plan of how and where to start.
Explore neuropsychological testing
If your child is struggling with executive function skills, getting them evaluated by a pediatric mental health professional can be invaluable. Specifically, neuropsychological testing can help reveal insight about your child and their specific needs, highlight your child’s strengths, and provide a path forward with recommendations for accommodations and strategies for success.
We're here to help!
Our goal at Whole Child Neuro is to support children and young adults in strengthening their executive functions at an early age, to set them up for success in academia and beyond. If you’re interested in a targeted evaluation for executive functioning for your child, we can help! Get in touch with our office today.