A: "Executive skills" is a term scientists have begun to use to describe these core, brain-based habits of mind that all of us employ to prioritize and 'execute' daily tasks, including getting organized, staying focused, and controlling our emotions.
Q: When do executive skills come into play? Can you give me some specific examples?
A: Sure. A lot of the things we expect kids to do involve executive skills. Studying for a math test, for instance, requires impulse control, working memory, and sustained attention. Cleaning your room before watching television also requires impulse control and prioritization, too. Developmentally speaking, executive skills are really the component building blocks of what we might call good behavior.
Q: What does it mean to say that these skills are brain-based?
A: Executive functioning corresponds with the brain's pre-frontal lobes, which are among the last neurological systems to fully develop. Since children's brains respond greatly to environmental cues, things like discipline styles, life experiences, and school learning can play a significant role in their overall development. In other words, neurological maturation isn't a set process that just unfolds according to a pre-determined genetic plan. The upshot for parents is that coaching and structured interventions can have a hugely positive impact, particularly when a child is stuck.
Q: How do you assess a child's overall executive functioning?
A: If there's a serious problem, parents are probably already aware of it. Say you have a daughter who excels at math, but constantly forgets to do her homework, or a son who's otherwise mature, but throws tantrums when he can't get his way. These are red flags. In our book, Smart but Scattered, we include a series of questionnaires that parents can use to rate their kids' executive skills strengths and weaknesses in various areas. This type of programmatic assessment is very helpful in moving forward toward an intervention. You can use strengths to help deal with weakness.
Q: Do kids with executive skills deficits need extensive therapy, or are there ways to improve a child's executive skills at home?
A: Smart but Scattered is all about how you-the parent-can make a lasting impact on your child's development by structuring interventions in you're his or her daily routines at home. We cover everything from completing chores and homework to improving concentration and setting goals. The book breaks it down into simple strategies you can tailor to your child's specific needs. That way, you can get past this frustrating notion of disability as a global problem. The truth is, there are no uniformly 'bad kids.' We all have strengths, weaknesses, and areas where we could use a little help.
Executive Skills Questionnaires for Children:
