Executive Function (EF) refers to the skills required to complete daily tasks, from short-term chores to more complex projects. EF skills include planning ahead, task initiation, time management, general organization, sustained concentration, self-reflection, and working memory. In other words, EF skills are tools for “adulting.”
The intentional strengthening of one’s executive function skills can begin as early as the elementary level. This may seem odd at first (isn’t it natural for first-graders to struggle with executive function?), but improving a child’s ability to complete a task from start to finish can involve methods that are both age-appropriate and fun. Although such strategies are especially effective for children with learning disorders, they can also help neurotypical students complete their schoolwork independently, fulfill age-appropriate responsibilities, and maintain organization.
At The Enrichery, we offer Academic Coaching sessions designed to assist students at the elementary, middle, and high school levels develop their EF skills. Here are some of our coaches’ preferred strategies.
Task Tracking
The use of a structured agenda to complete a task from start to finish can range in complexity from a simple checklist to a daily planner. At the elementary level, our Academic Coaches have found that clearly-written step-by-step instructions can serve the dual purpose of strengthening a child’s reading comprehension skills and helping them stay focused on a specific activity. Examples of classroom-appropriate activities include color-by-numbers worksheets and instructions for growing plants.
Another useful strategy among our coaches is to ensure a student has understood each step of a given task by asking them to repeat a set of instructions verbally to their coach. In doing so, the goal is less to judge the accuracy of a child’s memory than it is to gauge their general level of understanding. If a direction feels particularly difficult for a child to comprehend, modifying the language or breaking it down into smaller, more manageable steps might be necessary.
Time Management
Time management and planning ahead are critical executive function skills. Both can be strengthened at the elementary age by the deliberate, non-punitive implementation of time limits on various tasks.
At The Enrichery, some of our Academic Coaches find it valuable to ask their students how long they believe it will take them to complete a task (a conversation held just after it is determined the child has fully understood their instructions). At the elementary level, a child’s sense of time is still in its early stages of development, so it is not uncommon for a student to predict that a major assignment will take only five minutes to complete or, similarly, that a minor chore will require several hours. Rather than correcting the student, the coach will set a timer for the length of time the child has identified, ultimately turning their inaccurate estimation into an important lesson about time management. That exchange might sound like: “See? You thought this task would take you three hours to get through, but you finished it in 20 minutes!”
Incorporating Incentives
At the elementary level, it can be difficult to assess the purpose of a particular task prior to its completion. This lack of metacognition is not abnormal in young children, but it can be remedied with simple, prompting questions before and during an activity. Much like asking a student to repeat instructions, initiating a brief conversation about why a certain activity is important or helpful can have a long-lasting impact. For example, an Academic Coach might convey to their student that they cannot create a functioning paper airplane without following a set of instructions carefully and in the correct order. At home, a parent might explain to their child that dishes need to be washed after dinner if they are to be reused the next day. One of the most common motivational prompts used among The Enrichery’s Academic Coaches is: “The sooner you finish your homework, the more free time you’ll have to spend doing whatever you like!”
While incorporating executive functioning skills into one-on-one meetings with your child, our Academic Coaches assist in schedule maintenance, student-teacher communication, homework completion, project planning, and exam preparation. The Enrichery’s coaches are trained to assist students in the management of their daily lives, providing a guiding hand through a student’s academic, extracurricular, and personal obligations while also setting them up for independence and success in the future. For more information about the executive functioning resources we provide, contact us today!
