Does your child struggle with starting homework, maintaining focus, or handling unexpected changes? These challenges often stem from developing executive functioning skills—the essential mental abilities that drive your child's academic and personal success.

What Are Executive Functioning Skills?

Executive functioning skills are your child’s mental control center, coordinating thoughts, actions, and emotions. Research shows that children with strong executive function skills demonstrate better outcomes throughout their lives.

"If we can start everybody with having good executive functions, with enjoying learning, with being able to control their behavior, then everybody can do better.”

- Dr. Adele Diamond, leading researcher in developmental cognitive neuroscience.

Why these skills matter: Children who develop strong executive functioning skills don't just perform better academically—they maintain better overall functioning through adolescence and into adulthood.

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The 10 Core Executive Function Skills

1. Focus and Attention The ability to concentrate on important information while filtering distractions
2. Planning Ability
3. Envisioning and mapping out the steps needed to complete tasks
4. Response Control
5. Pausing to think before acting; managing impulses
6. Working Memory
7. Holding and manipulating information in mind; following multi-step instructions
8. Task Initiation
9. Beginning tasks without procrastination or excessive prompting
10. Organization
11. Managing materials, space, and time effectively
12. Time Management
13. Estimating time requirements and meeting deadlines
14. Emotional Regulation
15. Managing feelings during challenges without becoming overwhelmed
16. Flexibility
17. Adapting to changing conditions; switching between activities
18. Self-Monitoring
19. Checking work, evaluating performance, and making adjustments

Watch for these common indicators of executive functioning challenges:

• Frequent forgetfulness about assignments, items, or instructions
• Difficulty starting tasks despite knowing what to do
• Emotional outbursts when routines change
• Struggling to follow multi-step instructions
• Disorganized spaces (backpack, desk, bedroom)
• Poor time awareness leading to lateness or rushed work
• Difficulty transitioning between activities
• Inconsistent performance on similar tasks

If you notice several of these signs consistently, your child might benefit from targeted support.

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The Three Pillars of Executive Function Development

Executive functioning skills develop through:

1. Supportive Relationships

• Model skills in everyday activities
• Provide consistent guidance
• Create emotionally safe environments
• Guide children toward gradual independence

2. Structured Environment

• Establish predictable routines with some flexibility
• Set clear expectations and boundaries
• Provide opportunities for practice
• Reduce overwhelming stressors

3. Consistent Practice

• Integrate skill-building into daily activities
• Scaffold challenges appropriately
• Allow for productive struggle
• Celebrate small improvements

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Practical Strategies You Can Start Today

For Focus and Attention:

• Create distraction-free homework zones
• Use timers for focused work periods (15-30 minutes)
• Break tasks into smaller chunks with breaks in between

For Organization and Planning:

• Establish consistent places for belongings
• Create visual checklists for routines
• Use color-coding for subjects or activities
• Teach backward planning for projects

For Emotional Regulation:

• Name emotions together
• Create a "calm down corner" with tools
• Practice mindfulness activities
• Establish clear routines for transitions

For Time Management:

• Use analog clocks to visualize time
• Create schedules with time estimates
• Set timers for transitions
• Reflect on time predictions vs. reality

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Nurturing Success: The Path Forward

Executive functioning skills development is a journey that requires patience, consistency, and the right support strategies. As both an Executive Function Strategist and parent of teenagers, I've observed that:

• Progress is rarely linear - Skills develop at different rates and may fluctuate during periods of stress or growth
• Environment matters enormously - Creating structured but flexible spaces allows skills to flourish
• Relationships provide the foundation - Children learn these skills primarily through interactions with supportive adults
• Small improvements compound - Celebrating minor victories builds confidence for tackling bigger challenges

The research is clear: children with strong executive functioning skills demonstrate greater outcomes throughout adolescence and into adulthood. They're better equipped to handle academic demands, navigate social relationships, manage emotions, and eventually succeed in workplace environments.

Taking action today with your Executive Skills:

• Start by observing which executive skills are strengths for your child and which need support
• Choose one skill area to focus on rather than trying to address everything simultaneously
• Implement specific strategies designed for that skill, using visual supports when possible
• Maintain consistency while allowing for developmental ups and downs
• Partner with teachers to ensure similar support strategies across environments

Remember that executive functioning skills continue developing into early adulthood. With deliberate practice, appropriate challenges, and supportive relationships, your child can strengthen these essential abilities throughout their developmental journey.

By understanding and supporting your child's executive functioning development, you provide the critical foundation for academic success, emotional well-being, and future independence. The investment in these skills today will continue paying dividends throughout your child's life.

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Charell G. Coleman is Literature Teacher in Woodward's Middle School, an Executive Function Strategist, and mother of two teenagers. She specializes in helping children develop the skills needed for success in school and life. Her article appeared in Forbes.com in April 2025.