Everything You Could Know About Executive Functioning Skills Training

Millions of children in the US have been diagnosed with ADHD. Those with this condition struggle to pay attention in school. They may also have trouble with organization and developing social relationships.

These are all problems that can be worked on with executive functioning skills training. This training revolves around improving a child’s inhibitory control, working memory, and cognitive flexibility.

While many teachers help students polish these skills, if your child is struggling, you’ll need to reinforce them at home.

Check out this guide to learn more about executive function and why it’s a crucial part of your child’s development. We’ll also go over the signs of executive function disorder, and give you a list of things you can do at home to help.

What Is Executive Functioning?

Executive functioning refers to the set of mental processes that revolve around thinking clearly and making sound decisions. It allows us to find creative ways to solve problems, follow directions, and pay attention.

The development of these skills starts during adolescence and continues until a person enters their early 20s. People aren’t born with these skills. They must be built upon by involvement from teachers and parents.

Three main skills are lumped in with executive functioning. These are inhibitory control, working memory, and cognitive flexibility.

Inhibitory Control

Inhibitory control is the skill that centers around resisting temptation. Those who have a high amount of inhibitory control consider their words before they speak.

They stay on task no matter how bored they get. They excel in ignoring distractions.

To help your child work on their inhibitory control, you can play games such as Simon Says. Listening to stories challenges children to pay attention without interrupting the reader.

Working Memory

Working memory is a child’s ability to hold information and play around with it. Those with a high working memory can take an idea and chain it together with another one.

They can reflect on their past and use this information to shape their future decisions. They can remember multi-step instructions and carry them out in order.

If they think of a question while a conversation is going on, they have the ability to remember what they want to ask when they have a chance to interject.

Once again, storytelling is key. It’s a great tool for developing working memory because it requires the reader to process and remember information.

Calculating discounts and doing other mental math is also an excellent memory exercise.

Cognitive Flexibility

When in an argument, someone with cognitive flexibility can see things from the other person’s perspective. They have the ability to think outside the box and freely take on new opportunities.

No matter what challenges are thrown their way, they can find a way to succeed. They’re great at adapting to change and aren’t afraid to admit when they’re wrong.

Taking your child to a theatrical show will give them an example of flexible thinking. Actors are often forced to think on the fly and make adjustments to their performance.

Present your child with an everyday object and work together to think of creative ways to use it.

Signs of Executive Function Disorder

Several things can cause executive function disorder. Some include ADHD, mental health blockages, brain injuries, and developmental delays.

If your child needs to enter an evidence-based executive functioning curriculum, they’ll display a few signs. You may notice that they have difficulties getting started on tasks.

They’ll often ask you for help with finding their lost belongings. Their teacher may complain to you about your child forgetting to turn in their homework.

Your child might procrastinate on school projects until the night before they’re due. They’ll find it difficult to remember tasks and become overwhelmed by their schoolwork.

Reasons to Look Into Executive Functioning Skills Training

Executive function skills for students are crucial for success. Not only do they play a role in academic growth, but they also assist with social development.

They encourage independence, and they have a huge bearing on emotional learning.

These Skills Aren’t Innate

People aren’t born with the ability to reflect on past information and resist the temptations that life throws their way. These are skills that have to be learned.

Everyone develops executive functioning skills in different ways. Some pick up on them naturally as they interact with their friends and peers.

Others need academic coaching to teach them how to organize a binder and study for a test.

They Encourage Independence

Executive functioning skills training allows children to become more independent by teaching them valuable decision-making skills.

It can also help children learn how to manage their time and work through life’s many challenges.

Executive Function Plays a Role in Social Development

Executive function plays a role in social development by teaching students how to have meaningful conversations with their peers. Working memory allows a person to think about subjects that they want to talk about.

It also takes a high amount of attention skills to stay on topic and focus on the conversation.

These Skills Are Essential for Academic Growth

Children have to use their executive function skills throughout their entire school day. They need to pay attention to the lesson and write down organized notes.

They have to start tasks as soon as they’re handed to them and know what they need to study to pass tests. Academic coaching services are crucial for struggling students who often lose their homework and forget to bring their note-taking binder to class.

Executive Function Ties Into Emotional Learning

Having an understanding of ourselves, taking responsibility for our choices, having social awareness, building positive relationships with others, and using strategy to make wise decisions are all the building blocks of emotional learning.

As you can see, many of these things also tie into executive function. You can’t have one without the other.

How to Promote Executive Function at Home?

While learning executive functioning skills online is a great way to practice good habits, you’ll have to reinforce your child’s education while they’re not on the computer.

There are many academic coaching resources available to you. Use what you learn to create checklists with your child. Pick up a planner, set time limits, get your child into a routine, hold them accountable for their actions, and give them pep talks.

Many children resist learning if they don’t know why they’re doing it. To this end, you’ll need to explain yourself to them.

Encourage your child to write things down, offer them rewards when they do a good job, and don’t forget to allow for breaks.

Create Checklists

Tasks can be daunting for children that have an executive function disorder. They either restart the same task over and over again because they can’t decide how to go about it, or they don’t do it at all.

Checklists can take the strain off these children by walking them through the steps that go into a particular task. For example, you can post a morning checklist on the fridge that your child can follow to get dressed, eat breakfast, brush their teeth, and head out the door.

You can do the same for chores, going to bed, family vacations, and more. There’s pretty much a checklist for every occasion.

Hold Your Child Accountable

Those with executive function issues understand that there are consequences for their actions. They don’t need skill training to know if they steal a cookie from the cookie jar, they’ll get in trouble.

That being said, holding your child accountable for their mistakes will help to reinforce executive functioning skills for ADHD.

Give Your Child Time Limits

A child may be able to calculate how long it will take to clean their room but forget to account for something simple, like picking their toys up off the floor so they can vacuum.

That’s why it’s not enough to create a checklist. You need to assign time limits to tasks as well.

Write Things Down

Checklists aren’t the only tools you can use to jog your child’s memory and keep them on task.

Note cards, journals, sticky notes, and signs are amazing things that will help a child build their working memory.

Use a Planner

Many schools provide children with a planner but don’t teach them how to use them. Using the various tabs and sections of the planner won’t come naturally to students who aren’t interested in organization.

The sad part is that writing down homework assignments in a planner is a great way for those with executive functioning trouble to remember to do them.

Offer Rewards

Many children with executive functioning disorder find it difficult to motivate themselves to complete tasks if there’s no reward in it for them. That doesn’t mean you give your child a piece of candy every time that they do something right.

Instead, create artificial reward systems that help bolster a child’s self-esteem. Some parents use stickers or daily report cards.

Explain Yourself

Planning and organization may seem like a waste of time to a child if they don’t understand the reason why they should bother with it. This is especially true for kids with executive functioning issues.

Older children may have strategic organizational approaches that they think work for them but don’t. It will be difficult for you to convince them to try out your methods unless you explain yourself.

Try the Hands-on Approach

Many children can’t learn simply by being told how to do something. They learn by using their hands.

For example, if your child is struggling with math, instead of continuing to walk them through problems the old-fashioned way, let them work through adding and subtracting with jelly beans.

Don’t discourage your child from counting using their fingers. Some kids learn best from looking at charts and graphs.

Create a Routine

If you notice that your child struggles to get started on their homework when they get home from school, help them get into a routine. If you don’t, you may find them awake at midnight trying to work through their assignments.

Allow them to take a small break when they get home. After their break, they’ll jump into their homework. They’ll then eat dinner, take a bath, and relax for a few hours before going to bed.

Allow for Breaks

Developing executive functioning skills is tiring work. If you notice that your child is becoming overly stressed out by a task, that’s a good indicator that they need a break.

Give them the chance to recharge their energy. This will allow them to go back to the task refreshed and ready to go.

Give Your Child Frequent Pep Talks

Nothing can motivate a child quite like a daily pep talk. When you tell them you believe in them, it will make them feel good.

It will push them to work a bit harder to accomplish the goals that they’ve set for themselves.

A Little Sugar Is Fine

Sugar has a bad reputation, but it’s not all bad. Taking a sip of juice can stimulate the brain’s frontal lobe.

Keep in mind that sugar can replenish your child’s energy after they finish a big project or homework assignment, but you shouldn’t give them too much. It’s fine in doses.

Show Your Child Compassion

Again, learning executive functioning skills takes a lot of time and energy. Your child is bound to become frustrated now and again. There will be times when they mess up.

When this happens, don’t yell at them. Show them compassion and let them know that you’re there to help them.

Ensure Your Child’s Success With Executive Functioning Skills Training

Executive functioning skills training can set your child up for success no matter what life happens to throw their way. It works by helping them improve their working memory, inhibitory control, and cognitive flexibility.

To set your child up with a coach and get them the help they need, contact us for a free consultation.