Executive Function: Boost Your Student’s Skill Set

If you’re not family with the term, “executive function,” you’re not alone. Sometimes referred to as “the management system” of the brain, this skill set includes working memory, cognitive flexibility and inhibitory control (self-control). Working together, these skills help us do things like pay attention, plan, organize, prioritize and see goals through to completion. 

Although executive function skills begin developing in childhood, they tend to sharpen more through the teen years and mid-20s. Of course, everyone is different, and executive function challenges can be caused or affected by a variety of factors, including brain development and genetics.

Recognizing the Signs of Weak Executive Function

Many parents recognize executive function challenges without even knowing it because they’ve noticed “ADHD-like behavior.” That’s no coincidence, because ADHD is simply an umbrella term for an executive function deficit disorder. 

Curious if your student has executive function challenges? Start with these questions:

Does your student …

• … have trouble prioritizing tasks?
• … struggle to keep their thoughts organized?
• … have difficulty managing their time?
• … struggle to begin or complete tasks?
• … forget what they’ve just read or heard?
• … panic when routines or rules are changed?
• … struggle to keep track of their textbooks, school supplies or personal belongings?
• … have difficulty switching focus from one task to another?
• … have trouble following multi step instructions?
• … get overly emotional and fixate on things?

To be clear, not everyone with executive function deficits has ADHD. In addition, although having an executive function challenge can make learning more difficult, it in no way indicates that the student isn’t incredibly hard working or intelligent! The best news of all? Executive function can be trained, allowing students to maximize their full learning potential.

Boosting Executive Function at Home

For parents looking for outside help to strengthen executive function skills, there are science-backed brain training programs designed to target and train core thinking and learning skills to improve overall cognitive performance. 

Look for programs that use a one-on-one trainer-to-student approach and customize sessions around the student’s unique needs, goals and progress. Effective programs will usually include an individualized learning plan that works on all seven core cognitive skills (attention, logic & reasoning, processing speed, working memory, long-term memory, auditory processing, and visual processing). 

Reputable programs will begin with a Brain Skills Assessment to determine which of these core cognitive skills are strong and which could be boosted to ensure your student is living up to their full potential. 

Just looking for some tips and strategies to try at home? We’ve got 10 ideas to help boost your student’s executive functioning skills.

1. Teach them how to get and stay organized.

Buying planners, folders and calendars for your student may be of little use if you don’t show them how to use them. Demonstrate how to take neat and organized notes, how to make flashcards from course materials, and the importance of reviewing materials nightly to stay up to date on forms that need parent signatures, papers that can be filed, etc.

2. Discuss your student’s goals and how they plan to achieve them.

Sit your child down to really engage in a conversation about what they want to achieve this week, this semester or by the end of the school year. Depending on their age and interests, they may want to: learn to read a chapter book alone, score a 100% on their vocabulary test, try out for the debate team, or learn to play the piano. Once you’ve written down a few short- and long-term goals, work on steps to achieving them. While suggestions and guidance are welcome, be careful not to overstep. Your goal should be getting your child invested in setting goals and learning how to take action to achieve them. 

3. Work on time-management skills. 

Demonstrate how to read a syllabus, write down assignments and important upcoming quiz dates. Be sure to include extracurricular activities, such as sports or band, to provide visual cues on when the schedule may require some advanced planning. Provide examples of how to break bigger projects into smaller tasks or how to schedule small increments of time to study in the weeks leading up to a test.

4. Keep their brain fueled.

What kids eat and drink can play a big role in how well their brain functions. Choose brain-boosting foods for meals and snacks and limit their intake of sugar, caffeine, preservatives, food dyes and overly processed foods.

5. Encourage frequent breaks.

No one loves sitting in a chair working on one task for hours at a time—with good reason! It’s not good for you mentally or physically. Encourage your child to take frequent breaks after completing small tasks. Teach them stretching exercises, let them go outside in the sun with a healthy snack for 15 minutes, or simply shake out their hands and feet to music while they mentally decompress before the next task.

6. Review medications.

Both prescription and over-the-counter medications can cause ‘brain fog’ or sleepiness. This is particularly true for some ADHD and allergy medications. Talk to your child’s doctor if you’re concerned that something they’re taking may be affecting their thinking abilities. 

7. Keep them moving.

There’s quite a bit of research indicating that regular exercise helps kids’ brain performance. If your student lives a relatively sedentary lifestyle—even if they’re not overweight, make an effort to start adding movement to their daily routine.

8. Enforce sleep routines.

The brains of children and teens are constantly developing and sleep is one of the most essential components to keeping cognitive skills at peak performance. Follow the recommended sleep guidelines for your child’s age and enforce healthy pre-sleep habits (e.g., limiting technology, caffeine and sugar) to help them get their rest. 

9. Play games that boost memory and attention.

Verbal, card and board games that build memory and attention skills—such as Concentration, Simon and even “20 Questions”—can be so fun that they don’t even feel like work! Look for ways to incorporate these entertaining skill-building moments in the car, while waiting in line, or through a bonding family game night. 

10. Incorporate their ideas to keep them engaged.  

When it comes to boosting executive function skills at home, the most important approach is to incorporate your student’s input. When kids feel involved in setting goals, problem-solving and investing in their success, it can make all the difference to creating change.

Apply these tips to help work on your student’s executive function skills at home. To get more insight on how your child’s cognitive skills measure up and what you might be able to do to help them live up to their full academic potential, schedule a Brain Skills Assessment today!