Skip to content

Showing results for:"executive function"

  • The 3 areas of executive function

    Learn about working memory, cognitive flexibility, and inhibitory control. See how these executive functions help with planning and getting things done.

  • What is executive function?

    Executive function is a set of mental skills that include working memory, flexible thinking, and self-control. We use these skills every day to learn, work, and manage daily life. Trouble with executive function can make it hard to focus, follow directions, and handle emotions, among other things.

  • Trouble with executive function at different ages

    Executive function is a set of mental skills that act as a command center in the brain. They help us plan, manage time, control emotions, and get tasks done. Theyre also important for staying focused and solving problems. So struggling with executive function can have a big impact on kids. Trouble

  • How kids use executive functions to learn

    In order to learn, kids need to be able to plan, organize, and complete tasks. They also have to control their impulses and feelings. These are just some of what are called executive functions. Explore the different ways executive functions help kids learn.

  • Trouble getting work done is real. Executive function challenges may be the culprit.

    - Executive function challenges are common and real. - They make it hard to start and get through tasks, and to finish work on time. - Most people with ADHD struggle with executive function. Organization. Planning. Focus. These everyday abilities are part of a set of mental skills known as exec

  • Understanding executive function challenges in your child

    You may not know that much about executive function. But you see it in action every day. It refers to a group of skills that are key to learning and managing daily life. When kids struggle with these skills, it can have a big impact. Trouble with executive function can make it hard to focus , plan

  • Video: Executive function and the brain

    How do kids develop executive function skills ? It comes down to practice, says Philip Zelazo, Ph.D., a professor and researcher at the Institute of Child Development at the University of Minnesota. Watch as he describes what happens in the brain when we use executive function skills. He also talk

  • Is executive function disorder a real diagnosis?

    Someone told me my childs impulsivity and trouble focusing might be due to executive function disorder. Is that a real diagnosis? Theres no diagnosis called executive function disorder. You wont find the term in the DSM-5, the manual clinicians use to diagnose conditions. Some people may use that t

  • A day in the life of a child with executive function challenges

    Meet Josh, a sixth-grader with executive function challenges. This doesnt mean he isnt smart. It means his brains self-management system has trouble getting organized and getting things done. Executive functions are an important set of mental skills. To see how trouble with these skills affects ki

  • 5 ways executive function challenges can impact math

    Kids with executive function challenges may struggle with math. Learn why, and find out how to help.

  • Executive function issues: Possible causes

    - Researchers dont know the exact cause of executive function challenges. - Challenges with executive function run in families. - Trouble with executive function isnt a matter of intelligence. Kids with executive function challenges have trouble with a group of key skills we use to solve probl

  • 5 ways executive function challenges can impact reading

    Kids with executive function challenges may struggle with reading. Find out why, and learn how to help.

  • Do kids outgrow executive function challenges?

    My daughter is 10 and the school is telling me she has executive function challenges. She has a lot of trouble focusing on her work. Shes very disorganized and is a lot more forgetful than other kids her age. Is this something she might outgrow? Executive function is sometimes called the management

  • Brain network study shows why executive function improves as kids get older

    We know that executive function develops over time. Now, we may have a better idea of why and how. As kids grow older, their executive skills strengthen. They get better at skills like planning, organizing, and focusing. A recent study of brain scans shows how this improvement is linked to the sp

  • Types of tests for executive function challenges

    - Executive function involves a wide range of skills. - Tests for executive function look at specific skills like working memory and organization. - Other learning differences can impact executive function, which can make it complicated to test. Testing a child for executive function challenge

  • The difference between ADHD and executive function challenges

    In many ways, ADHD and executive function challenges go hand in hand. Thats because most of the symptoms of ADHD are actually problems with executive function. (Youll see the signs of each are very similar!) Theres one big difference between the two, however. ADHD is an official diagnosis. Execut

  • Everyday challenges for people who struggle with executive function

    - Trouble with executive function makes it hard to do everyday tasks. - There are simple ways to make some of these challenges easier. - One step is to go at your own pace and not worry if it takes longer. Dealing with everyday tasks can be hard when you struggle with executive function . We re

  • Why kids with executive function challenges have trouble with planning

    - Kids with executive function issues often have trouble with planning. - Planning is a complex skill involving the three main executive function skills. - Trouble with planning impacts all aspects of life, including learning. Planning might seem like a natural process when you have to get some

  • How does a child with executive function challenges think differently?

    Last week a psychologist told me my son has executive function challenges. She said he has a disorganized mind. What does this mean? How do kids with executive function challenges think differently? Executive function challenges can vary greatly from one child to the next. Thats why I want to star

  • How executive function challenges impact teens and young adults in the workplace

    - Executive function challenges can affect your childs performance at work. - Jobs may call for different coping strategies than school. - Organization is a key job skill that people with executive function challenges can struggle with. Handling the demands of work can be tough for teens and yo

  • Executive function strategies for your child

    Parenting a child who has trouble with executive function can have its challenges. But there are specific strategies and tools that can make everyday life easier for you and your child. Explore the strategies below, focusing on what might work best for your child.

  • ADHD Aha!

    What is executive function?

    Lets talk about executive function and ADHD. Expert Dr. Karen Wilson unpacks the types of skills under the executive function umbrella. Executive function comes up all the time in our interviews with people with ADHD. Why is that? Expert Dr. Karen Wilson joins Laura in this episode to explain. She

  • 5 common myths about executive function challenges

    If your child has trouble with executive function , you know how real these challenges are and how big an impact they can have. Whether youre new to the topic or not, it can be hard to separate fact from fiction. Here are five common myths about executive function , put to rest. Myth #1: Executive

  • Executive function challenges and learning: 6 ways to help your high-schooler

    - Teens with executive function challenges may struggle to stay organized. - Executive function challenges can affect both oral and written communication. - It can be hard for some teens to shift from one kind of activity to another. Between classes, social life, and extracurricular activities,

  • The connection between slow processing speed and executive function

    - Processing speed isnt an executive skill, but it can affect executive function. - Slow processing speed impacts working memory, flexible thinking, organization, planning, and attention skills. - Mistaking slow processing speed for challenges with executive skills is common. Processing speed

  • Executive function challenges and learning: 6 ways to help your grade-schooler

    - Kids who struggle with executive function may have trouble solving problems in new ways. - Group work can be difficult for some kids with executive function challenges. - There are ways to help grade-schoolers learn to organize information and check their work. Your childs trouble with execut

  • Executive function skills: They can be hot or cool

    We all know it can be a lot harder to think things through in the heat of the moment or when were frustrated or angry. But why is that? Whats happening in our brain? To understand why kids and adults make decisions differently depending on whether the stakes are high or low, it helps to learn about

  • 8 fun games that can improve your child’s executive function skills

    Board games require players to follow directions, take turns, and plan strategies three skills that may be tough for kids with executive function challenges . But the following games are easy to learn and understand. Better still, when you point out how the skills being used in each game connect to

  • Executive function challenges and learning: 6 ways to help your middle-schooler

    - Some kids with executive function challenges have trouble thinking flexibly. - The more complicated schoolwork of middle school may feel overwhelming to your child. - There are ways to help middle-schoolers improve executive function skills. If your child has trouble with executive function ,

  • Practice makes perfect for executive function

    Executive function challenges are tough. Ive watched the most dedicated and caring parents and the best teachers break down as they try to make sense of whats going on with kids who struggle with organization, planning, and time management . Its so easy to mistakenly see a child who has trouble w