Executive Function Skills

When we are worried about children being messy, for example, when we are faced with scattering toys after playing or missing homework from school, the first thing we want to do is try to understand what’s going on with them. These are all related to executive functions.

Executive functions are the mental skills we use every day to get things done. We use them to set goals, plan how to do something, prioritize, remember things, manage our time and possessions, and finish what we started.

Some children need to be supported in executive functions. They find it difficult to do their schoolwork and accomplish the things they are responsible for.

Some of these functions are more important. E.g; Losing your coat, forgetting your homework, not following directions are functions that you may encounter, as well as keeping facts in mind, solving few step problems, figuring out what is important in what you read, putting things in a reasonable order while writing.

How do I provide organizational skills in the child?

The first thing we need to do to support organizational skills is for parents to understand how disorganized their children are?

This is where teachers can be very helpful. Contact your teacher to find out which areas your child struggles with, especially with order. The student’s observation in the classroom by educators and the guidance service will allow them to identify what they seem to be having trouble with. Does he bring homework regularly? How does he complete his task in project-based works? Does he put materials where they belong after use? What about the bottom of your row? It is one of the topics where you can communicate with the teachers.

Before focusing on organizational skills, there may be some issues that can make the child seem messy. These;

• If a child seems to always forget to turn in their homework or lose their books, it may be because they have a learning disability and feel bad about doing or showing the teacher their homework.

• He may also be losing and forgetting things because he is distracted by anxiety. And maybe it’s a worry she keeps to herself because she’s embarrassed about it, so her teachers and parents might not know about it.

• A child may appear disorganized because he is unhappy, which may indicate a loss of interest and indifference to things he previously cared about.

• A child who has had a traumatic experience may be disorganized because he feels constantly stressed.

But if you can’t see these emotional issues that may be contributing to the behavior, it’s normal for your child to not be able to fully perform their executive functions.

How can we support?

Helping the child to increase their executive function skills, especially in pre-school and primary school, not only strengthens their social relations, but also enables them to develop academically.

1. Help.

Help your child get ready for school or have a backpack ready at the door. Or show your child how to put down their toys and do it on their own. But definitely don’t do it yourself. Wait patiently.

2. Reduce stimuli and proceed with a plan.

Create a schedule and do homework by reducing distractions based on that schedule. If your child is having trouble performing school duties, get support from the school and create a plan.

3. Be a model.

Be a model for your child in planning ahead. Create a schedule for playtime and other responsibilities, and encourage your child to participate in basic planning skills (such as helping him with dinner preparations, initiating a gift preparation).

4. Make rules, make them take responsibility when they are not followed.

Skills such as attention, control, time management, being organized and planning can be learned by following rules. Children must learn that every good and bad thing they do has a consequence. This information is necessary for them to control themselves.

5. Try memory games.

Card games that improve memory are very effective tools in improving children’s executive function abilities. We can teach functions such as memory and recall to their brains. Memory games not only teach remembering, they also improve planning and organization. Especially teaching children to play an instrument will also work this part of their brains.

6. Make use of the question and answer method.

Self-assessment is one of the executive function abilities. Behaviors such as seeing the error and finding the wrong come from this ability. “Why are you having such a problem?” when you can’t find your toy, or “What do you need to do for the next exam?” With questions such as, you can give him the opportunity to question himself and help his executive functions.