Executive Functioning in Children
Executive functioning (EF) refers to the cognitive processes that enable us to plan, focus attention, remember details, and regulate our emotions. EF skills are critical for success in school and life. Unfortunately, children who struggle with executive function skills may have difficulty completing tasks at home and school. This article reviews some of the most common EF challenges children face and offer tips for how parents can help their children overcome them.
Why is Executive Function in Children Important?
What are Common Executive Function Challenges in Children?
At What Age Do Executive Function Skills Develop?
Strategies to Help Support Executive Functioning in Children
Why is Executive Function in Children Important?
Executive functioning is an essential skill for children to develop. It allows them to plan, organize and complete tasks. Without EF skills, children may be unable to regulate emotions and behavior, build self-control, set goals and follow through on them, make decisions or manage time effectively.
Poor executive functioning can lead to unsatisfactory academic performance, inability to respond appropriately in social situations, and difficulty with problem-solving. Furthermore, children with poor EF skills may be at higher risk for developing anxiety and depression.
What are Common Executive Function Challenges in Children?
Executive function skills are a set of cognitive and psychological abilities that help us to complete tasks, remember details, regulate emotions, and respond to different environments.
The skills involved in executive functions include working memory, executive control (e.g., organization, self-control, and emotional regulation), planning skills, problem-solving, decision-making, and social skills. Executive functioning skills are crucial for helping children manage their to-dos, stay organized and on track with schoolwork, keep up with daily routines, regulate their emotions, and more.
Common executive function challenges in children include organization, task initiation, working memory, multi-tasking, regulating emotions, and impulse control.
Organization
Trouble organizing, planning, and prioritizing tasks. Children might be unable to keep their room or backpack organized or remember where important items are located.
Task initiation
Difficulty starting a task or a problem with staying on track to finish a job once started and completing a task within a certain period.
Working memory
They are easily overwhelmed by multiple tasks and do not remember what to do first or next—or have difficulty recalling information quickly or holding numerous pieces of information in their minds at once.
Multi-tasking
They struggle to juggle more than one task at a time or switch back and forth between tasks.
Regulating emotions
Difficulty with emotional control when faced with challenging tasks.
Impulse control
Trouble controlling impulses, including engaging in risky behaviors or giving in to temptations. These children might have problems completing tasks or resisting distractions.
When a child has difficulties in any of these areas, it can lead to frustration and decreased motivation.
At What Age Do Executive Function Skills Develop?
Executive skills start to develop in early childhood and continue to develop until young adulthood. The primary executive functions are typically fully developed by the end of adolescence, but executive function skills may continue to change and evolve as a person goes through life.
Adults may also experience changes in executive function skills due to various factors. For example, aging can cause executive skills to decline due to changes in brain structure and functioning. Stressful life events, such as a job loss or divorce, can also affect executive function. Illness and injury may also lead to decreased executive functioning. The demands of raising children and managing a household can also impact executive skills.
A speech-language pathologist can provide guidance and support on improving executive skills and ensuring that an individual’s executive function skills remain strong.
Strategies to Help Support Executive Functioning in Children
Executive functioning is an important skill for children to master as they grow and develop. By understanding common challenges and providing helpful resources, family members can help their child with EF gain confidence in their ability to manage their executive functioning skills. With patience, practice, and the proper support, children can become more successful in school and life.
There are a variety of strategies parents can use to help support executive functioning skills in their children. Here are several methods you can use to develop executive function skills in your child:
Model good executive functioning skills
Parents should provide their children with models of good EF skills, such as planning ahead and breaking tasks down into small goals. Another helpful strategy is to model good organizational habits yourself. Your child will likely follow your lead when you are tidy and organized.
Provide structure and routine
Establishing a consistent daily schedule can help children become more organized and better able to plan ahead. Your child will thrive knowing what to expect each day.
Teach self-regulation strategies
Teaching children strategies for regulating emotions, such as deep breathing or counting to ten, can help them stay focused and complete tasks. You can also set aside regular "down" or "quiet" times to practice self-regulation and mindfulness techniques.
Encourage positive reinforcement
Praise and rewards for completed tasks can reinforce good EF skills, help children develop a sense of accomplishment, and learn how to manage their own behavior.
Set clear expectations
It is important to set clear expectations for what you want your child to accomplish and how their work should be completed to help them stay on task and increase motivation.
Teach organization skills
Teach organizational strategies, such as using checklists or color-coding items. It's also essential for children to learn how to keep their materials organized. This includes everything from school supplies to sports equipment to clothes.
Practice time management skills
Help your child with time management, such as setting timers to keep track of time and completing tasks within a certain period of time. Use visual cues or reminders to keep track of tasks. Help your child learn how to use a planner or calendar so they can start keeping track of their time.
Take breaks
When children are trying to focus on a task, they need to take breaks now and then so they don't get overwhelmed or burned out. Encourage your child to take a few minutes every hour to move around, walk, read a book, or spend time with their pet.
Taking breaks doesn't mean your child isn't working hard—it just means they're taking care of themselves so they can stay focused and energized throughout the day.
Set achievable goals for large tasks
Show your child how to break down big tasks into smaller goals. For example, if your child has a science project due, help them make a list of all the steps they need to take to complete the project—gathering materials, doing research, writing the paper, etc.—and have them focus on one step at a time.
As they meet each goal, celebrate their accomplishment with them! This will help them feel motivated and confident as they move on to the next task.
Work with your child's teachers
Parents should communicate with teachers, counselors, or other specialists if they are concerned about their child's EF skills. These professionals can offer tips and strategies for helping children build their EF skills. With the proper support and interventions, parents can ensure that their child has the best opportunities for success.
How Can Connected Speech Pathology Help?
To succeed in school and beyond, EF skills are critical for children to learn. By following the tips outlined above, parents can help their children develop EF skills that will serve them well throughout life.
If you need additional support, Connected Speech Pathology is here to help! Our team of experienced speech pathologists specializes in executive functioning. We can teach your child how to manage their time better, stay organized, break down large tasks into smaller goals, and more.
Our speech therapists use evidence-based techniques to help children develop executive functioning skills that will set them up for success both now and in the future. Schedule a free consultation if you want to learn more about how we can help with executive functioning services for children.
About the Author
Allison Geller is a speech-language pathologist (SLP) and the owner of Connected Speech Pathology. She obtained her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the University of Florida in Speech-Language Pathology. Allison has practiced speech therapy in a number of settings including telepractice, acute care, outpatient rehabilitation, and private practice. She has worked extensively with individuals across the lifespan including toddlers, preschoolers, school-aged children, and adults. She specializes in the evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of a variety of communication disorders including receptive/expressive language disorders, articulation disorders, voice disorders, fluency disorders, brain injury, and swallowing disorders.
Allison served as the clinical coordinator of research in aphasia in the Neurological Institute at Columbia University Medical Center in New York. She is on the Board of Directors for the Corporate Speech Pathology Network (CORSPAN), a Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT) certified clinician, and a proud Family Empowerment Scholarship/Step-Up For Students provider. Allison is passionate about delivering high quality-effective treatment remotely because it’s convenient and easy to access. What sets us apart from other online speech therapy options is—Allison takes great care to hire the very best SLPs from all over the country.
