How to Improve Executive Functioning Skills Online

In 2016, an estimated 6.1 million children received an ADHD diagnosis. ADHD, or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, is not an easy condition to deal with. Children developing their executive functions face more obstacles than ever with ADHD.

Some parents find the process of nurturing executive functions in their children to be a near-impossible feat. But, instead of giving up, it may be time to use technology to help your children grow. With the right tools, you can improve their executive functioning skills online to help them get more out of life.

What are Executive Functions?

Executive functions are the cognitive processes that help us plan, organize, and complete tasks. There are eight key executive functions that children with ADHD struggle with:

1. Impulse Control

Impulse control deals with weighing the pros and cons of an action before doing it. For your child with ADHD, you may see this manifest when they blurt something out at an inappropriate time.

2. Emotional Control

This executive function is hard to identify in kids because their emotions are still developing. But, kids with ADHD have a harder time regulating their emotions.

You might see this manifest as a child overreacting to a “no.” In academic settings, kids with executive functioning issues often have trouble coming back from criticism. They may wallow over a wrong answer for too long, distracting them from correcting their mistake.

3. Flexible Thinking

Flexible thinking is somewhat related to emotional control. This executive function deals with your kid’s ability to react and adjust to changing topics.

As we discussed, children with ADHD may dwell on things. This develops rigid thinking patterns, making it hard for them to move from one topic to the next. You may find they express frustration when asked to look at a topic from a new angle.

4. Working Memory

Working memory is all about how much information your brain can hold at one time. For neurotypical people, this number can range as high as 10. But, people and children with ADHD might only be able to hold three things in their working memory simultaneously.

For example, if you give a child with working memory issues a verbal list of 5 tasks, they may complete the first few with ease. But, they would struggle to remember the last tasks when their peers seem to have little trouble in that area.

5. Self-Monitoring and Self-Regulation

This executive function is a major problem for distance learners. As distance learners, which many children became during COVID, they lose the structure of the classroom. While neurotypical people have no problems imposing that structure on themselves, kids with ADHD struggle.

Moreover, they have difficulty evaluating their own work and progress. This results in late or missing assignments and students’ surprise when they receive a poor mark.

6. Planning and Prioritizing Tasks

This executive function is why you may notice your child with ADHD has a tendency to procrastinate. Children who struggle with this executive function have trouble setting and meeting goals.

7. Task Initiation

Along with the prior executive function, this one deals with completing tasks. Kids who struggle with task initiation lack the internal motivation to even start a task.

So, unable to prioritize or start the list of tasks for a school project, they sometimes freeze up. This paralysis may break as they feel the pressure of a deadline, but sometimes they relinquish the task altogether. For academic purposes, this is one of the more important executive functions to nurture.

8. Organization

Organization deals with the ability to track items. This applies to keeping track of tasks and items in their head as well as physical items.

There are a few ways you might already see organization issues in your own child with ADHD. They might struggle to keep their backpack neat or misplace items like their phone, library books, and even their homework.

How ADHD impacts Executive Functions

So, executive functions are their own set of tools the brain uses to complete everyday tasks. If one or more of these skills is lacking, a person may find it more difficult to do things that other people do with ease. But, what is the ADHD connection, and how does ADHD impact executive functions?

Well, the frontal lobe of our brains controls our executive functions. Studies show that children with ADHD may experience slower frontal lobe development than their neurotypical counterparts.

Moreover, for executive functions to work, the brain’s networks must be in tip-top shape. Networks are the pathways that transport signals from the brain.

However, there in ADHD brains, some major networks function differently than in other brains. Without surprise, these different networks are those that deal with executive functions.

Distance Learning and ADHD

According to the CDC, ADHD is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders in childhood. It is usually first diagnosed in children between the ages of 6 and 12.

Because of their executive disfunction, distance learning is a challenge for these students. Distance learning requires more independence than other types of schooling. So, it can be hard for kids who get distracted by external stimuli.

Improving Executive Functioning Skills Online

All this information presents some unique problems for parents of ADHD children. First, their kids don’t have a learning environment conducive to their brains. Even traditional schools cater to the neurotypical experience.

But, right now, kids are still doing hybrid classes due to COVID-19. So, that means your child must navigate two systems that do not set them up for success.

Though working online can be harder for kids with ADHD, there are tools to help improve executive functioning skills online. These include software programs and apps that help them with organization and planning. These tools provide executive functioning skills training that, when used with your treatment plan, will help your child find academic success.

Remember not to think of online executive function tools as a replacement for treatment. Always use them as supplements to doctor-recommended therapy and medication.

Using Apps

There are many apps that can help with executive functioning skills. The main goal of using apps for your child with ADHD is to generate structure.

We recommend using to-do list apps, reminder apps, and calendar apps. These can be helpful in keeping track of assignments and due dates, as well as remembering to turn in homework on time.

Additionally, there are many organizational apps that can help with time management and staying on task. Some of these include:

• Evernote
• Trello
• Todoist
• Goalbook Toolkit
• Bear
• iHomework 2

Finally, there are also meditation and mindfulness apps that can help with focus and concentration. You may not see benefits from these apps right away. Instead, they provide benefits over time with regular use.

Creating Structure

You cannot (and should not) expect a child who struggles with executive functions to self-structure their study plan. They need an external source of structure to engage with them and guide them. This can be as simple as creating a schedule and alarm system for them.

By creating a schedule and sticking to it, you can make sure that they’re getting the most out of their online learning experience. It might help to create a study routine, so they have specific blocks of time set aside each day or week for specific classes. Try something like this:

• Monday Morning: Complete English lesson and homework
• Monday Afternoon: Complete Math lesson and exercises
• Tuesday Morning: Complete Spelling lesson and quiz
• Tuesday Afternoon: Complete Life Science exercises and lab

By blocking time out to complete specific tasks, you generate structure. Moreover, you give your child a chance to take a lunch break and shift topics.

You could also try setting up an organizer with tasks and deadlines, with plenty of reminders, so they don’t forget anything. You may want to consider using different color coding on your calendar or in your organizer to help them remember what needs to be done and when!

Turn on Push Notifications

Push notifications are your child with ADHD’s best friend. When you cannot be there to enforce the structure you set up, push notifications will.

Students studying alone can get distracted by a bird outside their window, a funny text, or even a hangnail. It’s not a sign of laziness but rather a sign that their brain isn’t stimulated enough to engage with their schoolwork. Lacking impulse control, they’ll turn their attention to something that does stimulate their brains.

That’s okay, and they’ll do it less the more they work on nurturing their executive functioning. In the meantime, the alarm of a push notification helps refocus their attention.

By setting up reminders for upcoming deadlines, your student can stay on track and avoid falling behind. Plus, they can keep their phone close by so they won’t forget to check the notifications. If you’re not sure how to set up push notifications, talk to your student’s teacher or school counselor.

Encourage Play

Encouraging play can help students with ADHD learn better online. Unstructured play and sports can help improve executive functioning skills for ADHD by teaching planning, organization, and time management. In addition, playing can also improve social skills and provide opportunities for positive peer interactions.

Finally, play can help students learn how to cope with failure and build resilience. Students with ADHD are often sensitive to the effects of their own mistakes. By encouraging them to embrace mistakes as a way of learning, it is possible that they will become more comfortable in their learning environment.

Try Academic Coaching Online

If you’re looking for help with your child’s executive functioning skills, academic coaching online may be a good option for you. Through academic coaching, your child can work with a coach one-on-one to develop strategies for success in school and in life. Plus, academic coaching is convenient and flexible, so you can fit it into your busy schedule.

How Academic Coaching Improves Executive Functioning for Students

Students with ADHD often struggle with executive functioning skills, impacting their ability to succeed in school. However, academic coaching can help improve these skills. Academic coaches work one-on-one with students and use a variety of techniques and strategies to:

• Boost grades
• Manage time more effectively
• Build confidence in learning new material
• Reduce anxiety in the classroom
• Reinforce structure

Academic coaches are experts in teaching strategies that help students learn how to self-manage without feeling overwhelmed or disappointed. They also help identify specific study methods that best suit each student’s individual needs and learning style.

The academic coach will create a plan for each student tailored to his or her strengths, challenges, goals, and interests. Moreover, you can access academic coaching resources online. So, getting these services is more convenient than ever.

When working on executive functioning skills for students, such as organization, prioritizing tasks, effective communication, goal setting, and planning ahead, it’s important for kids with ADHD to get the assistance they need from experts. That means normal tutors may not cut it. To take it one step further, you can get academic coaching services from those who specialize in ADHD and executive function disorders.

Peak Academic Coaching for Executive Functioning

At Peak Academic Coaching, we understand how difficult it is for students with ADHD to avoid executive dysfunction. Our program uses an evidence-based executive functioning curriculum to help improve executive functioning skills online so that students can succeed in school and in life.

Our skilled coaches work with students one-on-one to help them develop time management, organization, and study skills. We also provide academic support and guidance so that students can stay on track and reach their full potential. If you’re ready to improve your child’s executive functioning online, visit our website to get started today.