What are Executive Functioning Skills?
Smart Start
What are Executive Functioning Skills?
Executive functioning skills are the skills that help us to plan our days and what is going to happen next. They consist of a range of skills such as:
- Working Memory
- Holding information in mind to use it (e.g., remembering multi-step instructions).
- Holding information in mind to use it (e.g., remembering multi-step instructions).
- Impulse Control
- Thinking before acting, resisting distractions or urges (e.g., not blurting out answers).
- Thinking before acting, resisting distractions or urges (e.g., not blurting out answers).
- Cognitive Flexibility
- Shifting attention, adjusting to changes or different perspectives.
- Shifting attention, adjusting to changes or different perspectives.
- Planning and Prioritizing
- Setting goals, creating steps to reach them, and deciding what’s most important.
- Setting goals, creating steps to reach them, and deciding what’s most important.
- Organization
- Keeping track of materials, assignments, and time.
- Keeping track of materials, assignments, and time.
- Task Initiation
- Starting tasks without excessive procrastination or distraction.
- Starting tasks without excessive procrastination or distraction.
- Time Management
- Estimating how long tasks take and using time wisely.
- Estimating how long tasks take and using time wisely.
- Emotional Control
- Managing emotional reactions to stay calm and focused.
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Signs of Struggling with Executive Functioning
For children who struggle with executive functioning skills it can manifest in a variety of unique ways. Some signs that a child may struggle with executive functioning include:
- Forgetting what they were told moments ago.
- Losing school supplies, homework, or personal items frequently.
- Struggling to follow multi-step directions.
- Appearing disorganized or messy in their work or space.
- Have difficulty starting tasks (especially non-preferred ones).
- Have poor time awareness (e.g., underestimates how long things take).
- Get overwhelmed by changes or transitions.
- Acting impulsively or have emotional outbursts when frustrated.
- Needing constant reminders and supervisionto stay on task.
An occupational therapist can provide practical and individualized strategies to help a child express real-life settings. With dedicated care your child can learn to navigate and interact with the world around them with confidence.
Wondering About Developmental Milestones?
Have questions about your child’s development, or wondering if a certain diagnosis may be a fit? Try out our developmental screening tool— it’s a fast, free way to get a snapshot of your child’s progress on his or her developmental milestones.