Understanding Executive Function in Children and Teens

Introduction

Take Isaac, a fourth-grader, for instance, who is a charming, good-natured student who struggles with inattentiveness, forgetfulness, and impulsiveness. While these behaviors can be frustrating for parents and teachers, they often stem from difficulties with executive function (EF), a set of cognitive processes essential for mental control and self-regulation.

What is Executive Function?

Executive function refers to the neurological processes involved in:

• Mental Control

• Self-Regulation

• Planning and Decision-Making

• Emotional Management

• Remembering Instructions

These skills act as the “management system of the brain” and help individuals manage emotions, focus attention, plan tasks, and reflect on progress. Unlike intelligence, executive functioning skills are not inborn but develop over time.

Why Executive Function Matters for School Performance

Executive functions are critical for:

• Managing academic demands

• Prioritizing tasks

• Completing assignments

• Checking work

• Responding appropriately to social and stressful situations

When children struggle with executive functioning, they may appear unmotivated, lazy, or distracted, but these are often surface-level symptoms of deeper challenges.

💡 How can we help these deficits? 

Executive Function (EF) skills are the mental processes that help students plan, focus attention, remember instructions, and juggle multiple tasks successfully. Kids who struggle with EF often seem disorganized or distracted, but these challenges are rooted in how their brains manage tasks, not laziness or lack of care.

1. Working Memory – “Holding info in mind while working with it”

What it is:
This is your child’s ability to keep information in their mind long enough to use it, like remembering directions while trying to follow them.

How does it show up at home/school?
Your child may forget steps of an assignment, miss parts of directions, or have trouble recalling what they just read or watched — even if they paid attention.

What helps:
Try using visuals or word associations. For example, have them picture the letter “M” and connect it to “Mountain” when naming landforms.

2. Initiation – “Getting started independently”

What it is:
This is the ability to begin tasks or activities without needing constant prompts or help.

How does it show up at home/school?
Your child may appear unmotivated, distracted, or procrastinate — even when they know what to do. They might not start their homework until late or skip it entirely.

What helps:
Break large tasks into small chunks. Use timers and offer breaks after each small win. Help them start one step, like sketching just one landform, before moving on.

3. Planning & Prioritizing – “Knowing what to do, when, and in what order”

What it is:
This is the ability to create a roadmap for a task — deciding what needs to be done and the order to do it.

How does it show up at home/school?
Your child may put off work until the last minute, feel overwhelmed by projects, or not know where to begin.

What helps:
Create a checklist with due dates. Work together to break the project into steps and help them decide which ones to tackle first.

4. Organization – “Keeping track of materials and information”

What it is:
This is the ability to keep school materials, thoughts, and plans in order so they can complete tasks effectively.

How does it show up at home/school?
Your child might lose important papers, misplace supplies, or forget where things are. Their workspace or backpack may be messy.

What helps:
Use color-coded folders or bins. Have a consistent routine for organizing materials at the end of each day.

🧠 A Final Note to Parents:

Executive Function challenges are not about willpower or intelligence. These skills develop at different paces in different kids — especially those with ADHD or learning differences. With understanding and the right strategies, students can grow stronger in each area.

Executive Function and 21st Century Skills

In today’s fast-paced, technology-driven world, executive function skills are more essential than ever. Effective learners in the 21st century demonstrate the following qualities:

• Asking Questions

• Strategic Thinking

• Logical Reasoning

• Metacognition (thinking about thinking)

• Making Inferences

• Problem-Solving

• Creativity and Innovation

• Emotional Intelligence

• Effective Communication

These skills enable children to navigate a world where they have immediate access to vast amounts of information. Developing executive function helps them process, evaluate, and apply that information effectively.

The Importance of Social-Emotional Learning (SEL)

Schools are increasingly emphasizing social and emotional learning because successful students must balance academic skills with emotional resilience and adaptability.

Key Social and Emotional Factors Influencing Learning:

• Self-Confidence: Belief in their ability to grow and learn.

• Behavior Control: Managing impulses and emotions.

• Organization Skills: Staying focused and applying themselves to tasks.

• Critical Thinking & Problem-Solving: Making informed decisions.

• Positive Relationships: Building connections with teachers and peers.

• Empathy: Understanding the needs and feelings of others.

Students who develop these social-emotional skills tend to be more motivated, adaptable, and engaged in learning.