Executive functioning (EF) is a set of mental skills that helps us navigate our occupations. This set of cognitive skills is essential for us to get things done! Sometimes EF is called our “get it done” skill set. Think of skills like planning, organizing, anticipating, initiating, and monitoring success.
Executive functions are the “think ahead” skills – helping us to navigate challenges and tasks in our environments. When kids have difficulty with skills that fall under this umbrella term, we notice a mismatch between their potential, and their performance. So what are some of the skills?
- Planning and Organization
- Time Management
- Working Memory
- Inhibition (Impulse Control)
- Emotional Regulation
- Flexibility (Cognitive Flexibility)
- Initiation
- Self-Monitoring (Meta cognition)
- Goal-Directed Persistence
If your child is demonstrating difficulty with any of the skills above, occupational therapy can help! We would start with a full evaluation to ensure we are addressing any underlying areas of concern. For example, a child demonstrating difficulty with emotional regulation may have sensory processing differences, or a child demonstrating difficulty with initiation may have gross motor deficits. Any disruption in daily function is a sign to seek out an evaluation!
Taylor Johnson Therapy, PLLC 