Back to School - How does your child do with planning, organizing and stay on task?

Does your child misplace papers and school materials?  Does their backpack end up with everything squished in it, with no hope of finding that note from the teacher or school?  Do they struggle to find their shoes to get out the door?  Or forget to take their lunch or backpack to school?  Or do they struggle to start their school work or know to focus on the biggest priority or task?

Well as you know these things impact them!  So what are we talking about when we look at planning, organizing and staying on task?  It’s called executive functioning skills.

So what is executive functioning and how does it relate to kids with learning differences (such as ADHD, Dyslexia or Learning Disabilities)? 

Let’s first start off with what it is: 

“Executive function and self-regulation skills are the mental processes that enable us to plan, focus attention, remember instructions, and juggle multiple tasks successfully. Just as an air traffic control system at a busy airport safely manages the arrivals and departures of many aircraft on multiple runways, the brain needs this skill set to filter distractions, prioritize tasks, set and achieve goals, and control impulses” [1].

So this air traffic control system of executive function relates to skills around: 

• Memory

• Organization

• Planning

• Getting things done

• Staying on task and being able to pay attention 

• Problem solving and managing emotions etc.

If we asked how learning differences (such as ADHD, Dyslexia or Learning Disabilities) affect executive functioning skills and vice versa, this is a hard question to answer as there is mixed research. We do know that each child’s situation will be very specific for them and there is not one cookie-cutter answer to this question. Learning differences are complex and a diagnosis of a learning difference such as Dyslexia or ADHD does not look the same for each person.

There is a lot of overlap between diagnoses and concerns with executive function. Many students with LD’s do struggle with various aspects of executive function, with up to 90% of those with ADHD having executive functioning issues. 

Here is the good news: Executive functions are something that you can improve on but this can take time (so be patient).  Executive functions begin developing by age two and are fully developed by age 30. Then consider adding on the developmental delay of kids with ADHD and you will see that you will need patience, compassion and to build on the skills step-by-step. Executive functioning skills are like blocks, you have to build one skill before you can build onto another one.  

So what can you do as a parent to help your child to strengthen their executive function skills? Here are a few ways to get started: 

• Talk about executive functions, what they are, and how they affect our lives (help them see the importance and influence of these skills across different aspects of their lives!)

• Show your child how to create checklists for tasks they need to complete

• Model how to break a bigger task into smaller components

• Make information external by using cards, symbols, sticky notes, and apps

• Use timers and counters to help with time blindness.

• Add in accountability partners or point systems to help stay focused on the goal

We have more suggestions, checklists and information about executive function and how you can help your child to improve their skills in this area. Check them out on our back-to-school page where we are collecting resources to support you and your child with the new school year.

Learn more:

Get REAL with Executive Functioning blog article

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References

[1] https://developingchild.harvard.edu/science/key-concepts/executive-function/