The human brain is a very complex place, filled with ideas, thoughts, and emotions. Executive function is, in layman’s terms, the CEO of the brain. For example, if a student gets a month to write a 10 page research paper, the executive function part of the brain would say, “We need to make a plan for this paper.” And, once the plan is developed and dates are scheduled to do the work, the executive function part of the brain would say, “We need to start working on this project right now.” Executing such high-level commands, the executive function part of the brain is, therefore, the awareness of what needs to be done. Then, other parts of the brain, which act as “managers” and “workers,” figure out the how and when to get the work done. Examples of executive function skills (including some “managers” and “workers”) include:
- Planning
- Prioritizing
- Organizing
- Problem solving
- Working Memory (the ability to hold information in memory while working on another task)
- Impulse Control (the ability to stop and think before acting)
- Task Initiation (the ability to start homework, for example)
- Sustained Attention (the ability to stay focused on doing homework, for example)
- Metacognition (noticing one’s own thoughts)
- Shifting Focus (transitioning from one assignment to the next, for example)
- Flexibility (ability to accept last-minute changes in plans)
- Time Management (understanding time and how long tasks can take)
- Emotional Regulation (having one’s own coping skills to manage nervous system activation).
This Executive Function awareness resides in the pre-frontal cortex portion of the brain. Children are not born with executive function; this must be developed over time. The following links provide useful activities to develop and enhance executive function skills in children of all ages.
Spending Time in Nature Improves Executive Function Skills
(Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University (2014). Enhancing and Practicing Executive Function Skills with Children from Infancy to Adolescence. Retrieved from https://developingchild.harvard.edu/.)
