You may be scratching your head – executive function skills? Taken literally, the term seems to refer to something beyond a child’s immediate realm, and hardly something that needs improvement now. Wouldn’t ‘executive’ function skills be better suited to briefcase-carrying corporate professionals?

Actually, everyone would benefit from improved executive function skills – especially children. 

What Are Executive Function Skills?

By definition, executive function is a combination of skills and behaviors that we all use – on a daily basis – to focus our attention, plan, simultaneously manage multiple tasks, and achieve goals. Someone with poor executive function skills (EFS) may struggle to focus, pay attention, follow directions, and get things done. Children with these challenges often have difficulty in school.  

Executive function skills in children begin emerging in early childhood and continue to develop into early adulthood. Much like walking, talking, reading, and other milestone skills, EFS develops at different times in every child. However, if children cultivate strong executive function skills now, they will benefit throughout their lives.  

Jason Robinovitz, Chief Operating Officer of Score At The Top Learning Centers and Score Academy, says that it’s never too early – or too late – to strengthen your executive function skills and help your children develop theirs.

“Executive function includes a long list of skills with inter-related themes,” he said. “They involve planning, time management, organization, and memory. They’re the four domains of EFS that you can work on to augment and improve now, and you’ll be a better – and happier student and person when you do.”

The ABCs of Executive Function Skills

Although many people with learning disabilities struggle with executive function skills, poor executive functioning is not considered a disorder – and not everyone who struggles with EFS has a learning disability. 

To clarify the concept of “what are executive function skills”, here are its 12 facets explained in relatively simple terms: 

Fact 1. Planning and Prioritizing

Determining the appropriate order for accomplishing multiple tasks, then completing them so that the most time-critical assignments and tasks are tackled first, and multiple-component tasks are done in a logical order.

Fact 2. Time Management

Time management involves effectively allocating time for schoolwork, extracurricular activities, friends, family, part-time jobs, sports, and other commitments. Children with executive function skills understand how much time is needed for each task and can create schedules to ensure they complete everything on time. 

Fact 3. Task Initiation

This executive function skill in children refers to the ability to start a task without procrastination or excessive delay. Children with solid task initiation skills can efficiently begin their work, even when it may be challenging or uninteresting. They are also less likely to become overwhelmed or stressed by tasks.

Fact 4. Organization

This executive function skill involves arranging and maintaining order in one's physical environment, such as keeping a tidy room or desk. It also includes organizing thoughts and ideas to complete tasks effectively. Children with this skill can find what they need quickly and stay focused on the task at hand without becoming distracted by clutter or disorganization.

Fact 5. Working Memory

Working memory refers to the information we hold in our brains while completing a task. This includes remembering instructions, recalling information from earlier in the day, and holding onto ideas to complete a project. This executive function skill in children means they can juggle multiple pieces of information at once and use this information effectively to complete tasks.

Fact 6. Metacognition

Metacognition means "thinking about thinking." It involves reflecting on your own and having awareness of your thought process, and what drives your good – and poor – academic-related choices. This child's executive function skill can help them identify areas where they excel and areas where they may need to improve.

Fact 7. Response Inhibition

This executive function skill refers to the ability to think before acting. Children who have strong response inhibition can control their impulses and consider consequences before making decisions. They are also less likely to act impulsively, which can lead to negative outcomes.

Fact 8. Cognitive Flexibility

Cognitive flexibility is the ability to adapt and change one's thinking or actions in response to new or changing situations. A child's executive function skills of cognitive flexibility allow them to switch between tasks or strategies when faced with challenges, making them more adaptable and resilient. This skill also helps children think creatively and find different ways to approach a problem.

Fact 9. Goal-Directed Persistence

Goal-directed persistence is the ability to stay focused on a task or goal, even when faced with distractions or challenges. This executive function skill helps children work towards long-term goals and complete tasks despite setbacks or obstacles.

Fact 10. Sustained Attention

Properly directing our attention and maintaining focus – particularly when tasks are lengthy and/or have multiple components. 

Fact 11. Disengagement of Attention

The ability to shift and reengage our attention from one focus to another.

Fact 12. Regulation of Processing Speed

Being able to regulate the time it takes you to complete a mental task or process new information. 

Strategies To Improve EFS 

If your child experiences difficulty with one or more EFS, don’t worry. There are a variety of tried-and-true methods to improve Executive Function Skills and help your child stay focused in school and at home. Here are some easy ones to consider and adopt:

• Using calendars, checklists, and ‘to-do’ lists that indicate ‘start-by’ and ‘complete by’ dates can help students plan and organize their time.
  
  

• Establishing daily routines – and sticking to them – can get your kids into the habit of accomplishing tasks in an orderly fashion.
  
  

• Breaking complicated tasks or lengthy assignments into smaller, more manageable segments makes goals more attainable and less overwhelming.
  
  

• Writing due dates at the top of assignments (and highlighting the dates) serves as an effective deadline reminder.

Phone-Friendly

Your smartphone gives you access to a variety of organizational tools in the palm of your hand, including calendars, task lists, notepads, built-in video and voice recorders, and more. You and your child can download effective apps to support strong EFS, in addition to the ones already built into your phone. 

Additional Online Tools

You can also utilize a variety of online organizational tools including Google Drive for file storage, Google Keep (a free note-taking app), and countless others. Research the available online options to find apps that meet your child’s particular EFS needs.

A Place For Everything

Minimize clutter and ensure that your child puts belongings away in designated places so that everything can be easily located when needed. For even greater organization, create folders, label supplies, and color code items (using a different color binder for each subject, for example). Think plastic bins, painter’s tape for labeling, and a Sharpie.

Making Memories

To help retain information, students can use their phone’s voice recorder to record class lessons and lectures in addition to taking notes. Some students find it helpful to create flashcards to learn and remember the material. There are even a variety of free flashcard apps and sites available online, such as CRAM.

Academic Coaching

Robinovitz says that another way to improve EFS is to work with an academic coach, who focuses on developing a student’s organizational and functional learning skills. 

“While a private tutor might touch upon some EFS skills, an academic success coach determines which executive function skills need strengthening,” he said. “Then, using multiple tools and methods, the coach works with students to strengthen those skills to make them better students and enhance their performance in everyday life.” 

Students who can benefit from private academic coaching include those who procrastinate on assignments, frequently submit assignments late (or don’t turn them in at all), easily become distracted and have difficulty staying on task, struggle in multiple classes, appear to lack motivation, are disorganized, and/or may have impulse-control issues.

Improving Executive Function Skills At School

If your child is struggling with one or more Executive Function Skills, talk to his or her teacher. Teachers can help support students by establishing clear and consistent classroom routines, sticking to daily schedules, and providing extra assistance when necessary. 

Some schools specialize in working with students individually or in small groups, which can also be beneficial. For example, Score Academy, a Florida-based private school with six locations, specializes in one-on-one and small group education. Instructors develop individual academic plans and specific strategies for each student. Using a variety of techniques and hands-on learning activities, they help students develop strong Executive Function Skills, and coping strategies, and build self-confidence. Programs like these can help students overcome EFS challenges and boost self-esteem.

EFS For Life

We know that Executive Function Skills aren’t just for corporate professionals who spend their days strategizing in boardrooms. We also know EFS is crucial to our children’s success (as well as to our own). The good news? Robinovitz says that by applying these simple strategies – and with proper support – our children can significantly improve their Executive Function Skills – and their lives.

“All academic learning – as well as doing well in most of life’s endeavors – requires the use of multiple Executive Function Skills,” he said.  “Strengthening EFS will not only create a better student – the benefits also extend far beyond the classroom and include increased self-confidence, reduced stress, effective time management, problem-solving skills, and so much more. Students who develop their Executive Function Skills will literally become better versions of themselves.”

Is your child struggling with time management, study skills, or other Executive Function Skills? We can help. Contact Score At The Top for academic success coaching and more.