What are Executive Functions?

Executive functions are a group of brain-based skills that allow us to make decisions, plan activities, and stay focused while accomplishing our goals. Executive functions guide us as we complete multi-step tasks, manage our schedules, and talk with friends. They also help us pay attention to a boring task, change plans when we need to, and stop ourselves from saying what we are truly thinking (when our true thoughts could get us in trouble). Executive function in children can be supported and we are here to help.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE YOU WILL FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT Executive Functioning.

Strategies for Parents

Chunk information: Give instructions in one or two steps instead of a long list.
Use visuals: Put picture checklists for routines like getting dressed on bedroom or bathroom walls.
Get attention first: Make eye contact and get down to the child's level before speaking.
Ask for a repeat: Have your child repeat the instructions back in their own words.
Write it down: Use visual planners or sticky notes for school assignments and chores.

Tips for Maximizing Benefits

Choose Appropriate Games: Select games that are suitable for the player's age and skill level to ensure engagement and avoid frustration.
Discuss the Game Afterward: Talk about the strategies used, what could have been done differently, and how the game felt during play.
Model Good Sportsmanship: Demonstrate patience, good communication, and a positive attitude towards winning and losing.
Gradually Increase Complexity: Start with simpler games and gradually introduce more complex ones to continuously challenge executive functions.

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What do each of the EF skills means?

Each skill plays an important role in helping to accomplish both daily responsibilities and long-term goals. While reading up on the different executive functioning skills and their jobs, it’s important to note that they often work together in different ways. from "Pathway 2 Success"

Look below for a description of each of these skills. Plus there is a poster that can help you and your child focus on an area of weakeness. Start with a question of the day in an area that they are struggling.

Planning is developing a well-thought-out strategy before starting a task. This involves thinking about what is needed before beginning something and creating a list of steps to help accomplish that goal in an effective way. Strong planning skills can help learners best use their time and complete tasks well, without needing to go back and revise work after the fact.

Organization* is using strategies to stay neat and tidy. Being organized includes having a place for everything, developing a plan to keep materials orderly, and cleaning up we go. Learners with strong organization skills are better able to find what they need when they need it.

Task initiation means starting right away. That includes not procrastinating, even when it is a less-desired task (like starting homework or doing dishes). Skills with task initiation are critical because they are one of the initial steps in actually getting up and starting a job.

Time management is using time well to complete tasks. This helps us estimate how long tasks will take, prioritize tasks, and use time wisely. With strong time management skills, learners are better able to do their best and most focused work on jobs while also completing assignments on time.

Attention allows us to focus on a person or task for a period of time, ignore distractors, and refocus when needed. Strong attention skills can help to make sure learners hear and understand instructions, focus well during conversations, and concentrate on longer tasks.

Working memory is keeping information in our heads while we use it. We use working memory when we solve complex math problems and juggle numbers in our head. We also use working memory when remembering critical details in a story or just thinking back to what the directions given in class were.

Self-control is stopping and thinking in order to make a more positive choice in the moment. That involves learning how to “hit the pause button,” calm down when emotions run high, think through a situation, and make a good choice for now and the future. Learners use self-control in the moment, such as raising their hand before asking a question in class, and in the long-term, such as choosing to stay home to finish an assignment instead of going out with friends.

Flexibility is effectively coping with change. This means being open-minded, testing out new approaches, and going with the flow when things do not go as planned. Being a flexible thinker also means being able to see a situation in more than one way, which is critical for problem-solving and perspective-taking.

Perseverance is working through challenges and roadblocks that come up along the way. This means being able to try new strategies, continue working when a task is difficult, and even asking for help, when needed. Strong perseverance skills are necessary for success in all areas of life, as challenges are bound to come up here and there.