What Are Executive Functioning Skills? A Simple Guide for Parents
Is your child bright, but constantly loses their materials, forgets to turn in homework, or procrastinates until the last minute? If so, they may struggle with their executive functioning skills.
What does “executive functioning” mean? Why is it so important for school success?
Executive functioning is more than just a single skill. It’s a set of skills that involves planning, organizing, focusing, and managing tasks effectively.
This article will explain executive functioning to you in simple terms and will help you understand when specialized coaching may help your child.
What is executive functioning in children?
Executive functioning is essentially the brain’s management system. It includes skills such as:
- Task initiation
- Staying organized
- Planning assignments
- Managing time
- Following multi-step directions
- Remembering multi-step instructions
- Finishing assignments
When executive functioning works well, students can typically stay on top of their assignments and overall workload, and school usually feels manageable. When students have weak executive functioning skills, however, school can feel overwhelming.
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Main executive functioning skills
What are the primary executive functioning skills?
Time management skills
Time management is a key skill for success in school and in life. It involves having a strong grasp of how long tasks take and being able to plan accordingly.
Time management challenges may look like:
- Always rushing
- Constantly running late
- Underestimating homework time
- Turning in assignments late
- Struggling to start assignments at an appropriate time
Organizational skills
Organization can affect all aspects of school. It involves keeping track of materials and assignments.
Organizational challenges may look like:
- Losing homework assignments
- Having a messy backpack or locker
- Forgetting due dates
- Leaving assignments at home
Working memory
Working memory is an integral part of many different skills at school, including reading comprehension, writing, and math. It involves holding information in one’s mind long enough to use and apply it.
Working memory challenges might include:
- Forgetting instructions, especially when there are multiple steps
- Needing repeated reminders
- Losing track mid-task
- Struggling to complete math word problems
- Challenges with remembering information from a passage and then answering questions about it
Task initiation
Most aspects of school and life involve initiating tasks efficiently. Students who struggle with task initiation typically have trouble getting started without delays.
- Task initiation challenges might look like:
- Procrastinating homework
- Avoiding starting projects
- Staring at a page but not starting a writing assignment
- Needing constant prompting and reminders
Self-monitoring
Self-monitoring is a key component of executive functioning. It involves skills such as checking work and noticing errors (and then correcting them).
Self-monitoring challenges might include:
- Making careless mistakes
- Not checking for mistakes after completing an assignment
- Incomplete assignments
- Not reviewing work before turning it in
Emotional regulation
Emotional regulation involves effectively managing frustration and stress. Emotional regulation challenges might include:
- Homework meltdowns
- Avoiding challenging tasks and assignments
- Becoming easily frustrated
Why executive functioning is important
When parents don’t know what executive functioning is, they might assume that these challenges are related to:
- Laziness
- Poor effort
- Lack of motivation
- Not trying hard
However, executive functioning helps translate effort into results in a structured, efficient manner.
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Students with executive functioning challenges are often:
- Intelligent
- Articulate
- Creative
- Highly capable
Yet despite these strengths, they can still struggle in school if their executive functioning skills are weak.
Common signs of executive functioning challenges
Many students struggle with their executive functioning skills, and these challenges often become more pronounced as students move through upper elementary school into middle school and beyond. When students struggle with executive functioning, you might notice your child:
- Takes much longer than expected to complete homework
- Needs constant reminders to start tasks
- Loses their belongings
- Turns in incomplete assignments
- Has trouble finishing tasks
- Is disorganized
- Has emotional reactions related to schoolwork
These executive functioning challenges are particularly common in students with ADHD and learning differences.
Can executive functioning be improved?
Yes! Executive functioning skills can absolutely be improved with the right tools and strategies.
Students can build stronger executive functioning skills when they receive:
- Organized lists
- Structured routines
- Step-by-step instructions
- Organizational systems
- Time management strategies
- Tools for planning and prioritizing
Students must be taught directly with concrete tools and strategies to develop their executive functioning skills effectively.
How executive functioning coaching helps
Executive functioning coaching teaches students how to manage their schedule and assignments – not just homework help or general academic skills building.
Executive functioning coaching might include:
- Breaking down large tasks into smaller steps
- Setting up organizational systems
- Teaching time management strategies
- Improving task initiation
- Reducing anxiety related to schoolwork
How EBL Coaching helps students with executive functioning coaching in NYC and New Jersey
At EBL Coaching, we specialize in helping students in New York City and New Jersey who struggle with executive functioning challenges, ADHD, learning disabilities, and academic skills.
Unlike traditional tutoring that focuses only on subject content, we teach students research-based, multi-sensory strategies to develop stronger executive functioning and academic skills.
We help students develop:
- Effective organization systems
- Step-by-step tools for completing assignments
- Strong time management and study habits
- Tools for starting and finishing schoolwork
- Strategies for prioritization
- Tools for building working memory
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Many families seek tutoring from EBL Coaching when they notice that their child:
- Is bright but underperforming in school
- Is easily overwhelmed by multi-step assignments
- Needs constant reminders to start and complete their work
- Struggles to stay organized across subjects
- Becomes easily frustrated with schoolwork
- Has poor self-esteem
Our coaching teaches students strategies for building their executive functioning skills and learning how to apply those strategies to their relevant schoolwork.
When to consider support
Many parents may be unsure as to when their child needs support. It might be time to seek executive functioning coaching if your child:
- Struggles to complete their homework independently
- Regularly loses assignments
- Has trouble managing their time
- Struggles to prioritize tasks
- Becomes easily overwhelmed by multi-step tasks
- Is struggling in school and performing below their potential
Seeking executive functioning support early can significantly improve your child’s academic performance and self-confidence.
Closing thoughts
Executive functioning skills are key components of academic success.
When these skills are weak, students can struggle immensely in school, and they likely need systematic instruction on how to learn, organize, and manage their homework effectively.
With the right coaching, students can move from feeling overwhelmed and disorganized to feeling confident and self-sufficient.
FAQs about Executive Functioning Coaching
What is executive functioning in basic terms?
Executive functioning involves the brain’s ability to manage tasks such as planning, organizing, time management, and initiating tasks.
Why does my child struggle with executive functioning?
Executive functioning weaknesses are often associated with ADHD, learning disabilities, developmental delays, or underdeveloped skills. These challenges are not caused by laziness or a lack of effort.
Can executive functioning skills be improved?
Yes! Executive functioning skills can absolutely be improved. These skills can be strengthened through structured tutoring, concrete strategies, and repeated practice.
How do I know if my child has executive functioning issues?
Common signs of executive functioning challenges include disorganization, forgetting schoolwork, trouble starting tasks, weak time management, and emotional breakdowns related to schoolwork.
Does EBL Coaching offer executive functioning coaching in NYC and New Jersey?
Yes! EBL Coaching provides executive functioning coaching to students throughout New York City and New Jersey. We help students build their executive functioning and academic skills through structured, research-based support.
Dr. Emily Levy, the founder and director of EBL Coaching, holds her Doctorate Degree in Education and her Master’s Degree in Special Education. She has helped thousands of students with executive functioning challenges for over twenty years. She is also the author of the Strategies for Study Success student workbook series, the Flags and Stars Orton Gillingham student workbook program, and the Flags and Stars Multi-Sensory Math program, used by students and schools nationwide.