How to aid your child’s executive functioning

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As a parent, you want to do everything you can to help your child succeed in school. One important area that many parents don’t think about is executive functioning.

Executive functions are the cognitive skills that allow us to plan, organize, and complete tasks.

These skills are essential for success in school and life. Luckily, there are many things that parents can do to help their children improve their executive functions!

In this blog post, we will discuss some of the best executive functioning activities for school-aged children.

what are the Executive Functions?

The executive functions are controlled by the prefrontal cortex, which is the area of the brain just behind the forehead.

This area of the brain is not fully developed until a person is in their early twenties. This explains why children can have difficulty with executive functioning skills.

However, there are many things that parents can do to help their children improve their executive functions!

What exactly do we want to help our kids improve?

There are 7 main areas of executive functioning that we want to focus on:

1. Inhibition: This is the ability to control impulses and resist temptation.
2. Working Memory: This is the ability to hold information in your mind and use it to complete a task.
3. Cognitive Flexibility: This is the ability to switch between tasks and adapt to new situations.
4. Planning: This is the ability to set goals and create a plan to achieve them.
5. Organization: This is the ability to keep track of information and materials.
6. Time Management: This is the ability to use time wisely and complete tasks in a timely manner.
7. Task initiation: This is the ability to start a task without procrastinating.

As you can see, there are many different areas of executive functioning that we want to help our children improve.

Luckily, there are many things that parents can do to help their children improve their executive functions!

Here are some of the best executive functioning activities for school-aged children:

1) Inhibition activities:

Inhibition is the ability to control impulses and resist temptation.

This is an important skill for children to learn because they often have to do things that they do not want to do, such as homework or cleaning their room.

There are many different inhibition activities that you can do with your child. Here are some of our favorites:

• Teach your child how to take breaks. This could include setting a timer for 20 minutes and having them work on a task for that amount of time.
• Help your child create a plan for when they will do tasks that they do not want to do. This could include setting aside time each day to do homework or clean their room.
• Teach your child how to use positive self-talk. This could include saying things like, “I can do this” or “I am capable of doing this.”
• Encourage your child to take deep breaths when they are feeling overwhelmed. This can help them calm down and focus on the task at hand.

2) Working memory activities:

Working memory is the ability to remember information and use it to complete tasks.

This is an important skill for children to learn because they often have to remember multiple pieces of information, such as instructions for a project or the spelling of a word.

There are many different working memory activities that you can do with your child. Here are some of our favorites:

• Help your child practice repeating information. This could include saying a list of words or numbers out loud and having them repeat it back to you.
• Teach your child how to use mnemonic devices. This could include using rhymes or acronyms to remember information.
• Have your child draw a picture of the information that they need to remember. This could be a diagram of a science experiment or a map of their country.

3) Cognitive Flexibility Activities:

Cognitive flexibility is the ability to switch between tasks and adapt to new situations.

This is an important skill for children to learn because they will often have to switch between tasks at school.

There are many different cognitive flexibility activities that you can do with your child. Here are some of our favorites:

• Help your child practice following multiple-step instructions. This could include making a simple recipe or completing a puzzle.
• Teach your child how to brainstorm different solutions to a problem by asking them what they would do if they lost their homework or if their friend was upset.
• Encourage your child to think about different perspectives. This could be done by asking them how someone else might feel in a situation or what another person would do in their shoes.

4) Planning activities:

Planning is the ability to set goals and create a plan to achieve them.

This is an important skill for children to learn because they often have to complete tasks that require multiple steps, such as completing a project or preparing for a test.

There are many different planning activities that you can do with your child. Here are some of our favorites:

• Help your child break a large task into smaller steps. This could include creating a to-do list or making a timeline.
• Teach your child how to use a planner. This can help them keep track of their tasks and deadlines.
• Help your child create a study plan for an upcoming test. This could include making flashcards or creating a list of key concepts.

5) Organization activities:

One of the best ways to help your child with executive functioning is to teach them how to organize their materials.

This can be as simple as teaching them how to put their books in their backpack or how to create a daily schedule.

There are many different organizational activities that you can do with your child. Here are some of our favorites:

• Make a list of the materials that your child needs for school each day and help them check off the items as they pack their backpack.
• Create a daily schedule with your child. Write down all of the activities that they need to do each day, including homework, after-school activities, and family time.
• Help your child create a system for keeping track of their materials. This could include labeling their backpack and folders or creating a special place to put their schoolwork when they come home.
• Teach your child how to plan ahead. This could include helping them pack their backpack the night before or creating a weekly schedule on Sunday evening.

6) Time Management activities:

Time management is the ability to use time wisely and plan for future events.

This is an important skill for children to learn because they often have to juggle multiple activities, such as homework, extracurricular activities, and family time

There are many different time management activities that you can do with your child. Here are some of our favorites:

• Teach your child how to use a calendar. This can help them keep track of upcoming events and deadlines.
• Help your child create a daily schedule. This could include all of the activities that they need to do each day, including homework, after-school activities, and family time.
• Teach your child how to prioritize their tasks. This could include creating a to-do list or using a planner to plan their week.

7) Task Initiation activities:

Task initiation is the ability to start a task without procrastinating.

This is an important skill for children to learn because they often have to start tasks that they do not want to do, such as homework or cleaning their room.

There are many different task initiation activities that you can do with your child. Here are some of our favorites:

• Help your child make a list of the tasks that they need to do each day. This could include homework, chores, and after-school activities.
• Teach your child how to set a timer. This can help them break tasks into smaller chunks and make them feel less daunting.
• Help your child create a reward system for completing tasks. This could include earning points or stickers that can be redeemed for prizes.

How to tell if my child is having problem with their exutive functions?

There are several signs that may indicate your child is having difficulties with executive functioning. These can include:

• Frequent forgetfulness
• Losing things often
• Procrastination
• Trouble completing tasks
• Disorganization
• Learning from past experiences
• Poor time management
• Trouble starting tasks

If you notice any of these signs in your child, it is important to talk to their teacher or a healthcare professional.

They can help you determine if your child is having difficulty with executive functioning and provide strategies to help them succeed in school.

What are the other challenges that a kid with executive functioning issues might face?

Executive functioning difficulties can impact many different areas of a child’s life. These difficulties can make it hard for a child to succeed in school, make friends, and participate in extracurricular activities. Additionally, children with executive functioning issues may have difficulty following rules

Tips to aid your child with Executive functions

Be patient: It takes time for children to learn new skills. Try to be patient and help them when they need it.

Be positive: Help your child to see the positives of using their executive functioning skills. Acknowledge their successes and praise their efforts.

Encourage practice: The more your child practices, the better they will become at using executive functioning skills. provide opportunities for them to use their skills on a daily basis.

Model good behavior: Show your child how to use executive functioning skills by using them yourself. For example, if you are trying to teach your child how to use a planner, use one yourself and let them see how you are using it.

Raise the level steadily and slowly: As your child masters one executive functioning skill, challenge them by teaching them a new skill or raising the level of difficulty of the task.

Use fun activities: Learning doesn’t have to be boring. There are many fun activities that can help children learn executive functioning skills. Try some of the activities from this list.

Have realistic expectations: Don’t expect your child to be perfect. They will make mistakes and that’s okay.so Just help them when they need it and encourage them to keep practicing.

Weave in physical activities: Physical activity can help children focus and have energy. Try to weave in some physical activity throughout the day, such as going for a walk or playing a game of catch.

Encourage breaks: Allow your child to take breaks when they need them. This will help them avoid feeling overwhelmed and stressed.

Create a calm environment: A calm environment can help children focus and feel less stressed. Try to create a calm environment at home, such as having a quiet place for them to do homework or limiting screen time.

A final word

The activities mentioned in this blog post can help your child improve their executive functioning skills. These skills are important for children to learn, as they often have to do tasks that they don’t want to do.

Be patient with your child and encourage them to keep practicing. The more they practice, the better they will become at using these skills.

Please share this blog post with other parents who might find it helpful.

And, if you have any tips or activities that have helped your child with their executive functioning skills, please share them on my Instagram account.

Thanks for reading!