Executive Functioning: Skills That Make a Big Difference for Children

The Far-Reaching Impact of Supporting the Development of Executive Functions throughout your daily routines. If you have ever wondered why some children just seem to need one more explanation, one more prompt, one more example before understanding an assignment. If you have found yourself saying,” You knew this yesterday, why don’t you know it today?” If you can predict which students will need transition support and which students will struggle with auditory directions, then this is the training for you. Adaptable thinking, planning, self-monitoring, self-control, working memory, time management, and organization are all executive functioning skills that can be encouraged in learning environments. Research supports intentionally providing guidance and experiences that encourage the development of those executive functioning skills in young children.

Define executive functioning and the role it plays in a child’s development.

▪ Identify the three categories of executive functions

▪ Identify the connection between executive functions and the key indicators.

▪ Explain how executive functioning impacts literacy and math skills as well as social skills.

▪ Identify and prioritize strategies and resources to promote the development of specific

executive functioning skills in young children.

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