Back to School Without the Struggle: Executive Functioning Skills Make All the Difference
By Jack Vaughan
As summer wanes and the crisp air of autumn approaches, parents across the nation brace themselves for the annual ritual of back-to-school preparation. For many, this transition is marked not just by new backpacks and freshly sharpened pencils, but by a sense of trepidation. Will this be the year their child finally gets organized? Can they manage their time better? Will homework battles become a thing of the past?
The answer to these perennial questions may lie not in the latest educational app or tutoring program, but in a set of cognitive processes known as executive functioning skills. These mental tools, which include abilities like organization, time management, and emotional regulation, are becoming increasingly valued as crucial for academic success and overall well-being. Yet they often go overlooked in traditional educational settings, leaving many students struggling to navigate the complex demands of modern schooling.
Understanding Executive Functioning Skills
Executive functioning skills act as the brain's control center, allowing individuals to plan, prioritize, and execute tasks effectively. They encompass a range of abilities, from working memory and cognitive flexibility to inhibitory control and task initiation. In essence, these skills are what allow us to set goals, create plans to achieve them, and adjust our behavior along the way.
Here’s a list of the 12 core Executive Functionings skills:
Organization
Time Management
Focus/Sustained Attention
Working Memory
Cognitive Flexibility
Planning/Prioritization
Response Inhibition
Task Initiation
Emotional Regulation
Metacognition
Goal Directed Persistence
Stress Tolerance
Recent research has underscored the critical role of executive functioning in academic achievement. A 2018 meta-analysis published in the Review of Educational Research found a strong correlation between executive function skills and academic performance across various subjects, including math and reading. The study, which analyzed data from over 67,000 participants, concluded that executive functions were a stronger predictor of academic success than even IQ.
The Importance of Executive Functioning in School and Beyond
For students, strong executive functioning skills can mean the difference between thriving and merely surviving in school. A landmark study published in the journal Developmental Psychology in 2014 followed over 1,000 children from birth to age 32. The researchers found that children with better executive functioning skills at age 3 were more likely to graduate from college and have higher-paying jobs by age 32, even after controlling for IQ and socioeconomic status.
Conversely, students who struggle with executive functioning may find themselves constantly overwhelmed, unable to start assignments or follow through on their intentions. These challenges can lead to academic underperformance, decreased self-esteem, and strained relationships with parents and teachers. A 2019 study in the Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology found that children with poor executive functioning were at higher risk for anxiety and depression, highlighting the far-reaching impact of these cognitive skills.
Practical Strategies for Boosting Executive Functioning Skills
The good news is that executive functioning skills can be taught and strengthened over time. Unlike IQ, which remains relatively stable throughout life, executive functions are malleable, responding to targeted interventions and practice. A 2016 review in the journal Frontiers in Psychology analyzed various intervention programs and found that executive functions can be improved through targeted training, with effects often generalizing to untrained tasks.
So how can parents help their children develop these crucial skills? The first step is to recognize that executive functioning development is a gradual process that continues well into early adulthood. Here are some strategies:
Creating structured routines can boost executive function development. A 2015 study in the Journal of Family Psychology found that household chaos was associated with poorer executive functioning in children. As for an adolescent’s work environment – a quiet, organized space dedicated to studying and homework, free from distractions and equipped with necessary supplies, can significantly improve focus and productivity. Furthermore, consistent schedules for homework, chores, and bedtime provide a framework within which children can practice time management and task initiation.
Encouraging physical activity and ensuring adequate sleep are also crucial for executive function development. A 2019 meta-analysis published in Psychonomic Bulletin & Review found that regular physical exercise was associated with improvements in executive functioning across all age groups. Similarly, a 2016 study in Sleep Medicine Reviews highlighted the critical role of sleep in consolidating learning and regulating emotions, both key components of executive functioning.
Parents can also work with their children to develop specific strategies for common executive function challenges. For example, teaching the "get ready, do, done" method can help with task initiation and completion. A 2018 study in Learning and Individual Differences found that explicit strategy instruction improved executive functioning in school-aged children.
Visual aids are paramount to fostering executive functioning skills. Kids who struggle with executive functioning often need help visualizing their tasks and goals. By getting assignments and responsibilities out of one’s brain and onto visible surfaces can significantly improve working memory, task initiation and follow through. Visual aids such as calendars, planners, and checklists can help students keep track of assignments, deadlines, and activities.
Time management is a critical aspect of executive functioning. Teaching students to prioritize tasks based on importance and deadlines can help them manage their workload effectively. Breaking down large assignments into smaller, manageable steps and setting mini-deadlines for each step can also be very effective. Using timers can help students stay focused for short bursts of time, and techniques like the Pomodoro Technique, which involves working for 25 minutes followed by a 5-minute break, can be very effective.
Another effective strategy is to embrace the power of osmosis. Parents can talk through their own planning processes, demonstrating how they break down complex tasks or manage their time. This verbal modeling helps children internalize these thought processes and apply them to their own challenges. A 2017 study in the Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology found that parental scaffolding of executive function skills was associated with better executive functioning in children.
It's important to note that executive functioning skills are not just about academic performance. They play a crucial role in social interactions, emotional regulation, and overall life management. A 2020 study in the Journal of Youth and Adolescence found that better executive functioning was associated with improved social skills and fewer behavioral problems in adolescents.
Addressing Challenges and Seeking Professional Help
Despite your best efforts, some students may struggle significantly with executive functioning skills and require a higher level of support than planners and tutors. Signs of executive functioning difficulties include:
Procrastination
Winging-it
Low Follow Through
Time Blindness
Mental Rigidity
Disorganization
Low Motivation
Instant Gratification
Impulsivity
Multitasking
Mind Wandering
Working Memory Deficit
Emotional Dysregulation
Tunnel Vision
If these challenges are impacting your child's academic performance and well-being, consider consulting professional services that specialize in executive functioning coaching. Also, work with your child's school to implement accommodations that support their needs, such as extended time for tests, a quiet workspace, in-school tutoring, etc.
Empowering Students for Success
As we look to the future, the importance of executive functioning skills is only likely to grow. A 2020 report from the World Economic Forum highlighted adaptability and self-management as key skills for the future workforce, both of which rely heavily on executive functioning. By focusing on executive functioning development now, parents can help their children not just survive but thrive in school and beyond.
The back-to-school season need not be a time of dread and struggle. By understanding and nurturing executive functioning skills, parents can transform this annual transition into an opportunity for growth and empowerment. As we pack those backpacks and sharpen those pencils, let's remember that the most valuable tools we can give our children are not material but cognitive. Executive functioning skills may not be as tangible as new school supplies, but they are infinitely more powerful in shaping a child's educational journey and future success.
With patience, consistency, and targeted support, YPM is here to help your adolescent or young adult develop the cognitive tools they need to navigate the complexities of academic life and emerge as confident, capable learners.
At YPM, our team has over 100 years of combined experience successfully helping adolescents and young adults develop the executive functioning skills they need to thrive in school and beyond. To date, we’ve helped hundreds of teens and young adults connect with our roster of professional executive functioning coaches. Our highly skilled coaches are experts at helping their young clients mitigate executive dysfunction, learn executive functioning skills, boost positive habit formation, and acquire the life skills required to thrive in the adult world.
Our innovative mentoring program, EF12™, is specifically designed to help struggling teens and young adults develop the core twelve executive functioning skills. With our bespoke approach and premier coaches we help our young clients activate their potential.
Connect with us today to learn more about how our approach can help your teen achieve lasting wellness, on their own terms and in their own communities.