Parenting Resource for Enhancing and Practicing Executive Function
Enhancing and Practicing Executive Function Skills with Children from Infancy to Adolescence Introduction Executive function and self-regulation skills provide critical supports for learning and development. Just as an air traffic control system at a busy airport manages the arrivals and departures of many aircraft on multiple runways, For more resources on executive function skills allow us to retain executive function from the Center on the De- and work with information in our brains, veloping Child, please focus our attention, filter distractions, go to: developingchild. harvard.edu and switch mental gears. There are three basic dimensions of these skills: n Working memory — The ability to hold informa- In infancy, interactions with adults help babies tion in mind and use it. focus attention, build working memory, and manage reactions to stimulating experiences. n Inhibitory control — The ability to master Through creative play, games, and schoolwork, thoughts and impulses so as to resist tempta- children practice integrating their attention, tions, distractions, and habits, and to pause and working memory, and self-control to support think before acting. planning, flexible problem-solving, and sus- n Cognitive flexibility — The capacity to switch tained engagement. By high school, students gears and adjust to changing demands, priorities, are expected to organize their time (largely) or perspectives. independently, keep track of their assignments, and manage projects to completion. These skills help us remember the information we need to complete a task, filter distractions, resist As children develop these capacities, they need inappropriate or non-productive impulses, and practice reflecting on their experiences, talking sustain attention during a particular activity.
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