As a parent or educator, understanding executive functioning skills is key to supporting children’s growth and development. This comprehensive guide provides valuable insights, practical advice, and effective strategies to foster essential executive functioning skills by age. Empower yourself with the knowledge needed to help children thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. This eye-opening blog post reveals how developing executive functioning skills can significantly impact a student’s performance in school, from better study habits to improved problem-solving abilities, ultimately leading to greater success in the classroom.
Do you ever wonder what makes some children excel in their ability to plan, stay organized, and focus, while others seem to struggle? The answer lies in the development of powerful executive functioning skills. These new skills, which are crucial for success in school and in life, can be nurtured and honed from a young age. In this article, we will explore the secrets behind unlocking these skills in children of all ages. From understanding the concept of executive functioning to implementing strategies for effective planning and organization, improving focus and self-control, mastering task and time management, and promoting long-term success and well-being, we will provide you with proven techniques and tools to empower your child.
By incorporating these strategies into your child’s daily routine, you will witness their independence, focus, and overall success soar to new heights. So, let’s dive in and begin unlocking the secrets to developing powerful executive functioning skills in your child today!
What are executive functioning skills?
There are several executive functioning skills children should come to master. They are important in order to make their lives easier and allow them to be more successful in their endeavors. But first, what is executive function? As Carolyn Carpeneti defines it, executive function is “the ability to plan, organize, manage time, initiate action, and achieve goals.”
Executive functioning skills by age revolve around managing themselves and their resources to accomplish age appropriate tasks and goals. Executive functioning skills often seem basic to those who have a strong executive function skill set. However, they are a learned skill set that involves laying out a plan and proceeding through the plan in an organized fashion.
Understanding Executive Functioning Skills
In order to truly unlock the secrets to developing powerful executive functioning skills in children, it is important to have a clear understanding of what these skills actually entail. Executive functioning skills refer to a set of cognitive processes that enable individuals to manage their thoughts, actions, and emotions in order to achieve desired goals. These skills are like the conductor of an orchestra, coordinating and harmonizing different aspects of our thinking and behavior.
One aspect of executive functioning skills is the ability to plan and organize. This involves creating a roadmap for completing tasks, breaking them down into manageable steps, and determining the necessary resources and time needed. By cultivating planning and organizational skills in children, we equip them with the tools they need to navigate complex tasks and projects independently.
Another crucial component of executive functioning skills is the ability to maintain focus and resist distractions. In today’s fast-paced and information-rich world, the ability to concentrate is a valuable asset. By helping children improve their ability to stay focused on a task, we empower them to overcome distractions and accomplish their goals more efficiently.
Self-control is another vital executive functioning skill that plays a significant role in a child’s overall success. It refers to the ability to regulate one’s own thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, particularly in challenging situations. By teaching children strategies to manage their impulses and emotions, we provide them with the self-control necessary to make thoughtful decisions and navigate social interactions effectively.
Mastering task and time management is yet another crucial aspect of executive functioning skills. Being able to manage time effectively and prioritize tasks ensures that children can allocate their energy and efforts appropriately. This skill sets the foundation for future success in academics, careers, and personal life.
Executive Functioning Skills List
In addition to the executive functioning skills above, here is a more complete list of list of executive functioning skills.
- Initiation (Starting tasks without unnecessary delay or procrastination.)
- Working Memory (Holding and manipulating information in one’s mind while working on tasks.)
- Flexibility In Adapting to Change
- Emotional Control
- Task Completion
- Problem Solving
- Self-Monitoring (Being aware of one’s own performance and making adjustments as needed.)
- Goal-Directed Persistence
- Metacognition (Thinking about processes and improving.)
- Cognitive Flexibility (Shifting between different tasks or trains of thought.)
- Decision-Making
- Executive Attention (Focusing on relevant information and ignoring distractions.)
- Impulse Control
With all of this in mind, it is no surprise that individuals with well-developed executive functioning skills tend to be more effective in managing tasks and navigating challenges. Executive function skills often do not fully develop in the human brain until the late teens and mid twenties.
The Importance of Developing Executive Functioning Skills in Children
Developing executive functioning skills in children is not just a nice-to-have but an essential aspect of their growth and success. These skills lay the foundation for future achievements, both academically and personally. By honing these skills early on, children can navigate the challenges of life with greater ease and achieve their full potential.
Furthermore, developing executive functioning skills in children is key to fostering their overall growth and well-being. These skills enable children to plan and organize their activities and responsibilities, ensuring that they can handle them efficiently and effectively. By developing strong executive functioning skills, children can become more self-reliant and better equipped to handle the demands of life.
Strategies for Developing Effective Planning and Organization
Firstly, it is important to establish clear routines and expectations. By providing children with a structured framework for their day, they can better anticipate what is expected of them and plan accordingly. This can be achieved by creating a visual schedule or checklist that outlines their daily tasks and responsibilities. By following a consistent routine, children develop a sense of order and organization that becomes ingrained in their mindset.
Another strategy is to break tasks into smaller, manageable steps. Large or complex tasks can often be overwhelming for children, leading to procrastination or disorganization. By breaking tasks down into smaller components, children can approach them with a sense of purpose and clarity. This can be done by creating a task list or using a planner to identify the specific steps required to complete a task. Teaching children to prioritize these steps also helps them understand the importance of planning ahead and allocating time and resources accordingly.
Additionally, promoting the use of visual aids can greatly support children in developing planning and organization skills. Visual tools such as calendars, color-coded folders, and labeled storage bins can help children organize their belongings and materials. These visual cues serve as reminders and prompts, reinforcing the importance of keeping things in order and reducing the likelihood of misplacing or forgetting important items.
Furthermore, encouraging children to set goals and deadlines can foster a sense of accountability and motivation. By defining specific objectives and establishing timeframes for completion, children learn to plan ahead and allocate their time effectively. Parents and educators can facilitate this process by guiding children in setting realistic goals, breaking them down into smaller milestones, and celebrating achievements along the way. This not only enhances planning and organization skills but also cultivates a growth mindset and resilience in children.
To help make all of this more relatable and provide real-life examples, you may enjoy this book excerpt with personal experience.
Book Excerpt from Taking Flight: Mastering Executive Function
Caroyln Carpeneti’s personal experiences with her own son’s education inspired her to write her debut book. It is called Taking Flight: Mastering Executive Function (affiliate link) Carolyn Carpeneti’s book shares hard-won, practical solutions for helping children and teens in mastering executive function. The book aims to help teach our children how to accomplish executive function tasks. In this way, they successfully meet expectations and even unlock their dreams and potential. Here is an exclusive book excerpt on the importance of executive function in children. The book goes into detail on why and how to teach executive functioning skills. This book excerpt is published here with permission.
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(Excerpt shared from Chapter 4, Pages 89-92)
How might a person with underdeveloped executive function struggle? Let’s see how he might clean up his room.
To him, there’s no real “secret” to how you do it. Everything you do in the room carries equal importance. It might be a lot easier if he were to prioritize. For instance, if he’s standing on a mound of clothes, and he keeps tripping over them as he walks around the room to clean other things, then it would probably be more efficient to pick up the clothes first so he stops tripping. Throw the dirty ones in the hamper perhaps. Put each of the clean shirts on a hanger. Return the other clean clothes to their respective drawers. Those books he’s standing right next to? It might be more efficient to place them on the shelf so he’ll have more room to work. Or to first clear his desk.
Instead of looking at cleaning his room as one big task titled “Clean My Room,” it would be much more efficient if he were to “chunk it out” and create mini-tasks (pick up the clothes, clean the desk) and do them in the most logical order. The room would get cleaned more quickly, and with less agitation. Someone with strong executive function will naturally chunk it out.
Executive Functioning Skills For Better, More Efficient Choices
Have you ever thought, “Oh my God, why can’t my kid simply get her homework done? It’s not that complicated!” Yet, as Diane points out, doing homework is not a “one-step thing” but a sequence. You must:
- Write the assignment down.
- Bring it home.
- Possibly bring home or procure necessary materials.
- Remember to look at it/take it out.
- Do it.
- Put it back in the backpack.
- Turn it in or e-mail or post it.
Long-term assignments require even more breaking down. You have to divide the whole into its parts, then line up the pieces in a sequence, then assign each piece a due date.
If you’re someone who doesn’t prioritize, it may well be because you see everything as having equal importance. If you’re someone with weak executive function, you may not be able to hold several thoughts in your head simultaneously. In fact, it’s not so much a speed issue as a congestion issue. Imagine what it would be like if your mind included current thoughts as well as lots and lots of “backup” thoughts, the kind of stuff that many of us “store away” so we can get other things done. To use Diane’s air traffic control analogy: Aircraft had better be moving in and out regularly and logically, rather than all coming in at once, or moving haphazardly, or all getting stacked up over the airport, for everything to work the way it’s supposed to.
Not only do those with weak executive function encounter difficulty in school and in their daily life, but they face additional challenges because of how others may see them.
Improving Executive Function Skills In Childhood
If you lack adequate organizational ability past an age when it develops in most kids, then people might consider your behavior and actions to be intentional. They see a lack of motivation, a lack of trying. It’s just “who you are.” They may lack the awareness to think, “Well, that’s an executive function issue that will improve over time, and then she’ll perform very differently.” Weak executive functioning is not always an easy problem to diagnose, and behaviors associated with it may be misconstrued. Some may think that the problem could be easily fixed if the person would only try a little harder. To add to the challenge, many people with weak executive function are teenagers. So they’re also navigating the emotionally charged, impulsive, self-absorbed, at times self-destructive stage of adolescence. Just look at some of those studies that show electroencephalograms (EEGs) of the teenage brain.
This could well be the making of a major social epidemic, though one that’s somewhat hidden. Some people simply need more time to develop this set of skills, or at least get it to a level that’s adequate. But if it hasn’t yet developed during the latter years of high school and the early years of college, exactly when parental expectations and the rigid structure of many educational institutions are working against such patience and individualized attention, then there’s a potential disaster waiting to happen.
Some people may never fully master executive function. The problem is more prominent in boys than girls. More and more studies on the subject are being done. As Diane pointed out to me, markers in younger children may show a predisposition for executive function issues. They include having trouble with speech articulation issues—consonants and vowels aren’t clean and crisp—after age four. This may be indicative of a sequencing issue, since one must move the facial muscles and tongue in a specific sequence for the words to come out clearly and crisply. For kids five and older, struggling with handwriting (having difficulty transitioning from fisted to pinched grasp and moving the hand from top to bottom and left to right) may be another indicator.
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Techniques for Improving Focus and Self-Control
Developing effective planning and organization skills in children is crucial for their overall success and fulfillment. By implementing strategies such as establishing clear routines, breaking tasks into smaller steps, utilizing visual aids, and promoting goal-setting and accountability, parents and educators can empower children to become organized and proactive individuals. These skills lay the groundwork for the next section, where we will explore techniques for improving focus and self-control, further equipping children with the tools they need to thrive.
One technique for improving focus and self-control in children is the practice of mindfulness. Mindfulness involves teaching children to be present in the moment and pay attention to their thoughts, feelings, and surroundings without judgment. This can be done through simple exercises such as mindful breathing or engaging in activities that promote focus and concentration, like puzzles or art projects. By practicing mindfulness regularly, children can develop the ability to stay focused on tasks and control their impulses.
Another technique for improving focus and self-control is the use of positive reinforcement. Parents and educators can praise and reward children when they demonstrate good focus and self-control. This can be as simple as offering verbal praise, stickers, or small incentives for staying on task or resisting distractions. By associating focus and self-control with positive outcomes, children are more likely to develop these skills and maintain them over time.
Additionally, setting clear expectations and providing structure can help children improve their focus and self-control. When children know what is expected of them and have a structured routine, it becomes easier for them to stay focused on tasks and resist distractions. This can be achieved by creating a consistent schedule, establishing designated study or work areas, and minimizing potential distractions such as noise or screens. By creating an environment that supports focus and self-control, children are better equipped to develop these skills.
Finally, teaching children techniques for managing stress and regulating their emotions can also improve their focus and self-control. When children are able to identify and cope with their emotions effectively, they are less likely to become overwhelmed or distracted during tasks. Strategies such as deep breathing exercises, self-reflection, and engaging in calming activities like reading or listening to music can help children calm their minds and maintain focus.
Conclusion
Once you recognize the importance of executive functioning skills, it is important to realize that they are a skill set that must be taught.
Incorporating the strategies and techniques discussed throughout this article into your child’s daily routine will empower them to become independent, focused, and successful. By unlocking the secrets to developing powerful executive functioning skills, you will set them up for a lifetime of achievement. From understanding the importance of these skills to implementing effective planning and organization strategies, improving focus and self-control, managing tasks, time, and emotions, and promoting long-term success and well-being, there are countless ways to support your child’s growth.
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