Do you feel your blood pressure rising every time you go into your child’s bedroom? Are there more clothes on the floor than there are in the dresser drawers? What about his backpack? Is it jammed with crumbled papers and missing homework assignments? Have you taken a look in her desk or locker at school? Warning…it’s not for the faint of heart!
If your child seems to be “a mess” it may be beyond their control. Many young people and adults are struggling with a lack of executive functioning skills. 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. When you have trouble with executive function, it makes it hard to focus, follow directions, and handle emotions.
Some experts describe executive function as “the management system of the brain.” The thinking skills involved let us set goals, plan, and get things done. When people struggle with executive function, it impacts them at home, in school, and in life.
If your child seems to be “a mess” it may be beyond their control. Many young people and adults are struggling with a lack of executive functioning skills. 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. When you have trouble with executive function, it makes it hard to focus, follow directions, and handle emotions.
Some experts describe executive function as “the management system of the brain.” The thinking skills involved let us set goals, plan, and get things done. When people struggle with executive function, it impacts them at home, in school, and in life.
You Built a Life Worth Living. So Why Does It Feel This Hard?
- Paying attention
- Organizing, planning, and prioritizing
- Starting tasks and staying focused on them to completion
- Understanding different points of view
