What is Executive Functioning?

Executive function skills are my jam. Not only do I love working on it with my clients, but I love implementing the strategies in my home with my kids. Executive function skills are being talked about more on social media, but not many people are familiar with what it actually is and why it matters so much to our children.

What is Executive Function?

Executive function skills are the skills that help us plan, organize, and carry out our thoughts and actions. According to the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University, it’s the “air traffic control” of the brain.

There are many executive function skills we use in our daily lives that I’ll highlight in a later post. Some important executive function skills include (Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University, 2020):

• Working memory

• Cognitive Flexibility

• Self-Control

Why are Executive Function Skills important?

It not only helps us improve our independence and decision making, but our social connections. The misconception is that Executive Functioning is only needed in school and for homework. But we need executive function skills in all aspects of personal and social lives.

• A child can use their self-control so that they can wait their turn for a toy.

• A child can use their working memory to remember information from a conversation at school or home and respond to it.

• A child can use their working memory to get ready for school without prompts and reminders from their parents.

• If a child’s favorite breakfast food is finished, they can use their cognitive flexibility to come up with another solution (i.e. having a different breakfast food)

Who needs Executive Function therapy?

Many people are born with weaker executive skills with or without a diagnosis. Executive Function skills are usually worked on with the following diagnoses:

• ADHD

• Autism

• Learning Disabilities

However, everyone is unique and just because a child has a particular diagnosis, does not mean they have executive function deficits. In a later post, I will discuss more signs that a child may need executive functioning therapy.

What can we do?

The great news is that executive functions can be improved! These skills can be taught through executive function therapy. In upcoming posts, I will provide examples of some things that can be done at home.

In the meantime, you can book a consultation or evaluation with me for us to start working on executive function skills today! Contact me at jency@playhousespeechtherapy or 469-771-1311 to talk more and schedule an appointment.

References

“Executive Function & Self-Regulation.” Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University, 24 Mar. 2020, https://developingchild.harvard.edu/science/key-concepts/executive-function/.