Published: March 18, 2025
Executive functioning skills have been found to have a positive impact on future success. A recent article by the Child Mind Institute stated that, “Executive functioning skills are the essential self-regulating skills that we all use every day to plan, organize, make decisions and learn from past mistakes.” EF’s components encompass many competencies, such as completing a task, managing time, paying attention, switching focus, planning and organizing, remembering details, multitasking, and impulse control. “No one is born with executive functioning skills, but nearly everyone can learn them.” These critical life skills are regulated by the prefrontal cortex in our brain and develop at different stages, beginning shortly after birth with final maturation at age 25.
Executive functioning skills are learned from, “Infancy to adolescence.” Executive functioning skills consist of cognitive and behavioral skills. Thinking or cognition skills involve working memory, metacognition, organization, time management, and planning/prioritizing. Behavioral skills that fall under executive functioning involve emotional control, response inhibition, attention, initiation, persistence, and flexibility. Working memory and self-control are the primary executive functioning skills acquired during the elementary years.
Working memory allows us to process and use information. It enables us to follow step-by-step directions and helps us recall the numbers in a math problem. A student with difficulty with working memory should not be overloaded with information. Brief instructions should be given at each task interval to help students comprehend and retain the important concepts. Visual aids such as checklists and color coding are critical as they encourage self-regulation and independence.
Impulsivity can make it hard for a student to participate actively in daily lessons, often leading to behavior modifications. Impulse control is an executive functioning skill supported by positive behavior intervention strategies and mindfulness.
Cognitive flexibility is another executive functioning skill that allows us to easily transition from one task to another while adapting to change. When we encourage flexible thinking, students learn to use new approaches for problem solving and beyond. Mastering these skills enables all students to become self-directed and successfully lead themselves.
During the elementary, middle, and high school years, students are essentially, “Learning to learn,” and academics are not the only lessons taught in school. Teachers immerse executive functioning skills in the daily flow of the school day. Starting in Pre-K, students become acclimated to specific daily schedules and routines. As students advance in their academic careers, executive functioning skills will become more demanding.
Planning and organizing are crucial for academic success when transitioning from middle to high school. Middle school students can benefit from making priority lists, which help them navigate and rank the most important tasks that need to be completed. Explicitly teaching students how to use a planner is a great way to enhance time management skills.
Struggling with executive functioning skills can negatively impact a child’s success in school and beyond. Students with ADHD, learning disabilities, and autism often struggle with these executive functioning skills.
At Prep Academy Tutors, our certified teachers and executive functioning coaches support students from Kindergarten to 12th grade who need guidance with executive functioning skills. Our personalized lessons are based on the individual needs of each student. We look forward to working with your child as they master executive functioning skills.
Written by our staff author and reading specialist, Maryann Moriarty