Executive Functions
By Mara Berke, J.D., M.S.W. and Holly C. Knight, Psy.D. | L.A. Parent | September 2014
Helping Your Child Organize, Plan and Follow Through For A Better School Year.
Do your children lose notebooks, books, sweatshirts, cell phones or school handouts? Do they forget books at school that they need for homework, or forget to turn in homework assignments even though they have completed them? Are there piles of paper stuffed in the pockets of their notebooks? Are you shocked when you see their school lockers with crumpled papers in disarray? Do your children wait until the last minute to start on projects? Have they told you the night before that they are supposed to bring something – such as a book, costume or food item – to school the next day? If you answered “yes” to some of these questions, your children might be struggling with executive functions. You might feel frustrated and concerned. You have done all you are able to help them, but the planner sits blank despite the upcoming test that should be listed (along with a plan for daily study). The new pencil box is long gone. What to do? You can’t continue to manage everything for your children, but you can’t stand to sit by and watch them flounder.
What Are Executive Functions?
Executive functions are responsible for directing and managing thinking, emotions and behavior, particularly during problem solving. Executive functions work together to help a person achieve goals by giving them the ability to manage time and attention, switch focus, plan and organize, remember details, curb inappropriate speech or behavior and apply lessons learned from past experiences to new situations. Sheldon H. Horowitz, Ed.D., director of professional services at the National Center for Learning Disabilities, offers a description that reflects the views of many experts: “Executive functioning involves activating, orchestrating, monitoring, evaluating, and adapting different strategies to accomplish different tasks. It requires the ability to analyze situations, plan and take action, focus and maintain attention, and adjust actions as needed to get the job done.” If the brain were an orchestra, executive functions would be the conductor, making sure our thinking, behavior and emotions work together in harmony to get the job done. Learning to organize and build upon tasks, and how to prioritize and follow-up, are life skills necessary for any career path. Without these skills, it is often difficult to highlight one’s strengths and it often appears as if the person is less than capable. Executive functions allow us to put our best foot forward.
