How You Can Improve Your Child's Executive Function Skills
Leanne Sherred, M.S., CCC-SLP
Executive function skills control and regulate just about everything we do. These skills include the ability to plan and organize tasks, concentrate, manage our time, and more. Some kids have trouble with executive function skills, especially those who have ADHD, autism, a learning disability, or communication problems. A speech therapist can teach your child personalized strategies to improve their executive functioning.
Key takeaways
Executive function skills are how we think about, process, and control our behaviors. They include the ability to manage our time, pay attention, regulate emotions, plan and organize tasks, and solve problems.
There are ways to help build your child's executive function skills at all ages, from babies to school-age kids.
Some helpful techniques include providing clear directions to your child, using checklists and reminders, and breaking big tasks into smaller steps.
Executive function problems can be linked to ADHD, autism, or learning differences. Some signs include trouble following directions or starting tasks, needing lots of reminders to stay on track, getting overwhelmed with chores or schoolwork, or getting upset when frustrated.
A speech therapist can teach your child ways to improve their planning, organization, and concentration, while also helping them communicate more clearly.
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Screener for childrenWhat are executive function skills in children?
Executive function skills are how we think about, process, and control our behaviors. They include our ability to:
Manage our time
Regulate our emotions and behaviors
Plan, organize, and prioritize tasks
Stay focused and follow projects through to completion
Empathize and understand different points of view
Solve problems
Multitask
Have a strong working memory
As you can imagine, these skills are essential to living a productive life. And for many parents of school-age kids, they may be top of mind. The ability to plan, manage, and organize tasks and everyday activities is a key part of school success.
Take homework, for example:
Your child needs to be able to remember they have homework due and organize their approach to doing it.
They have to start the assignment with enough time to finish it before bed.
They have to stay focused without being distracted.
And, if the assignment is hard, they have to remain calm and ask for help without tempers flaring.
Many kids who are diagnosed with ADHD also have speech and language problems. Learn how speech therapy for ADHD helps with communication skills.
How to build your child's executive function skills by age
I’s important that your expectations are in line with your child’s age and developmental level. For example, a preschooler probably can't stay focused enough to complete a chore that takes a half-hour.
Here are a few helpful exercises by age to improve executive function skills:
Babies: Even at this early age, it’s still important to reinforce good executive function habits. One example is playing the classic “peek-a-boo” game. It may seem simple (and it is), but it can help your child learn the flow and rhythm of a game. They also need to use self-control as they wait for the surprise reveal.
Toddlers: Games like “Red Light, Green Light” and “Simon Says” help reinforce self-control for children. These games quickly switch between being in motion and staying still. This helps kids practice flexible thinking and listening for directions.
Preschool: Playing with your child, as well as giving them chances to socialize with other children, helps them interact and cooperate. It teaches them self-regulation skills like sharing and turn taking. This requires them to stay flexible when interacting with others, follow rules, and solve problems.
School age: When your child enters school, you can play more complex games that require a higher level of strategy. Not only is this family bonding time, but it helps increase their cognitive skills such as their working memory, multitasking, and ability to plan ahead.
Here's how to help your child learn the communication skills they need to advocate for themselves and succeed socially and at school.
4 ways to improve your child's executive function skills
Now, let's discuss some more detailed ways to strengthen your child's executive functioning.
1 Give your child clear instructions
Helping your child follow directions is important, especially when it comes to doing school assignments and daily chores.
Make sure you’re crystal clear about your expectations by providing step-by-step instructions to your child. Keep it simple and straight to the point. Have them repeat the directions back to you so you know they understand. For example: "Please put the placemats on the table, then put the napkins and forks on each placemat."
Also, make sure your child understands not just “what” they have to do, but “why” they have to do it: “You need to finish this homework so you understand the material and can be ready for your test.”
Learn what causes attention problems in children, such as ADHD, and how to help your child with their attention and concentration at home.
2 Create a “to-do” list or checklist
Some children have trouble completing tasks on time because they don’t know where to start or what to do first. A to-do list can be tremendously helpful in improving your child's time management.
This list can be a note on the fridge, a whiteboard in their room, or a color-coded journal. Whichever format works best, keep a list of everything you expect your child to complete--chores, homework, tasks, etc.--and when they’re due. You might also make a list to post by the door. Maybe it's the items they need for school, or the equipment they need for sports practice.
Visual aids like this can help your child feel more in control. Plus, it gives them a feeling of satisfaction when they mark something off the list.
3 Reward your child
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy! Rewarding your child doesn't have to mean giving them money, candy, or a new toy. Instead, you want your child to recognize the difference between what they “want” to do and what they “need” to do, and which should come first.
For example, your child wants to play with their toys, or wants to go to the playground. However, to do this, they need to finish their homework or clean up their room. Use a simple “first... then” structure to make this clear: “First you need to finish your homework, then you can go outside and play.” This can help your child see the positive effects--the "rewards"--of doing what’s expected of them.
OT for autism can support the sensory regulation, self-care, and fine motor skills that help kids participate in everyday life.
4 Organize bigger projects into smaller tasks
Completing a bigger, more complicated assignment can be tough for children who have trouble with executive function skills. For example, filling out a worksheet one night is pretty simple. But what about completing a book report that takes a few weeks? Your child needs to read the book, take notes along the way, write their assignment, and then turn it in on time. That’s a lot!
Some children can get so wrapped up in the decision-making process, and feel so overwhelmed, that they ignore or never start the assignment. You can help by "breaking up" these bigger projects into smaller tasks. Give your child a list of clear steps ahead of time so the project feels more achievable.
Kids need adults to teach them how to work through their feelings and emotions. One way to do this is through empathy.
What are the signs of executive functioning issues in children?
Experts don’t fully understand why executive function disorder happens. However, it's sometimes linked to conditions that affect the way your brain works, including ADHD, autism, and learning differences.
Your child may have problems with executive function skills if they:
Have a hard time starting a task, or tend to procrastinate
Often need reminders or prompting to stay on track
Tend to get overwhelmed when doing chores or other tasks
Have trouble following directions
Often get upset or have meltdowns when they’re frustrated
Have a hard time planning or organizing school assignments and materials
Speech therapy can help with executive function problems
Executive function skills can also affect a child's communication skills. For example, in order for a child to understand what they hear and read, they need to be able to:
Stay focused without distractions
Have the working memory to retain information
Be able to use context in order to understand difficult or unknown words
So it makes sense that many children who struggle with executive function need speech and language support. Speech therapy can focus on communication skills as well as executive function skills. A speech therapist can teach your child ways to improve their planning, organization, and concentration, while also helping them communicate more clearly. They'll also coach you on how to support your child at home, during everyday routines--helping life go more smoothly for everyone!
How Expressable Can Help
Concerned your child isn't reaching age-expected milestones? Looking for communication support from a professional? Expressable is a national online speech and occupational therapy practice serving children and adults. We treat all major areas of communication, feeding, and developmental skills, offer flexible hours including evenings and weekends, and accept most major health insurance plans. We’re proud to have earned more than 4,500 5-star reviews from our clients (4.83/5 average).
Our therapy model is centered on parent and caregiver involvement. Research proves that empowering caregivers to participate in their loved one’s therapy leads to better outcomes. That’s why we combine live, 1-on-1 speech and occupational therapy with personalized education and home practice activities for faster progress.
