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Enhance Your Back-to-School Success: 9 Essential Executive Functioning Strategies

As the school year approaches, arming your child with effective strategies to boost your executive functioning skills is essential for a successful academic journey!

This September, BES is delving into all the details about executive functioning. Consider all your questions answered and arm your teen with knowledge on the art of organization, time management, and more!

1. Plan with Precision:
Beyond setting goals, breaking tasks down into smaller, actionable steps can supercharge your child’s productivity. This strategy not only keeps kids on track but also provides a sense of accomplishment as they tick off completed tasks. Hello, instant reward!

2. Embrace the Power of Prioritization:
Prioritizing tasks based on urgency and importance ensures your child will tackle the most critical assignments first. But, don’t just stop at prioritization—have your child leverage tools like color-coded lists or digital planners to visually map out their day.

3. Cultivate Time Management Mastery:
Creating a detailed schedule, including study blocks, breaks, and extracurriculars, can help your student optimize their time. They can stick to their schedule, but remain flexible to accommodate unexpected changes. Adding in a buffer window to account for anything unexpected will help your student master time management in no time!

4. Fine-Tune Focus and Attention:
Here’s a pro tip: practice mindfulness techniques to sharpen your teen’s focus. Deep-breathing exercises or quick stretches can reenergize young minds during study sessions. Remember, it’s always important to step away from hours of studying; the brain needs breaks, too!

5. Harness the Power of Self-Monitoring:
Encouraging your child to track their progress and reflect on their accomplishments aids self-awareness. Take it up a notch by having them use self-monitoring apps or journaling to assess your growth over time.

6. Develop Flexible Problem-Solving Skills:
Innovative problem-solving is an invaluable skill. When faced with challenges, talk to your child about using a growth mindset. Analyze the situation, consider different approaches, and be open to adjusting your child’s strategy as needed.

7. Utilize Visual Aids and Organizational Tools:
Incorporate visual aids like mind maps or color-coding systems to organize information. For an extra layer of organization, explore digital tools that sync across devices, helping your child access essential resources on the go.

8. Foster Effective Communication:
Effective communication encompasses not only creating space for your child to articulate their thoughts but also active listening—a crucial skill in group projects and collaborative learning.

9. Prioritize Self-Care:
Prioritize your student’s well-being by encouraging adequate sleep, maintaining a balanced diet, and engaging in activities that bring joy. Less screen time at night will help with your child’s circadian rhythm. Remember, a good sleep hygiene happens when teenagers implement a healthy and fun routine!

Your Teens’ FAQs on Executive Functioning:

Q1: What are executive functioning skills?
A1: Executive functioning skills refer to a set of cognitive abilities that enable you to manage your thoughts, actions, and emotions effectively. They play a pivotal role in tasks such as planning, organizing, time management, and problem-solving.

Q2: How can I improve my executive functioning skills?
A2: Enhancing executive functioning skills involves practicing strategies like goal-setting, time management, and effective communication. Consistent practice, self-awareness, and seeking guidance from mentors or professionals can significantly contribute to improvement.

Q3: Are executive functioning skills essential beyond academics?
A3: Absolutely! Executive functioning skills transcend academics and are vital for success in various aspects of life, including career, relationships, and personal growth. Mastering these skills equips you with tools to navigate complex situations with confidence.

Q4: How can I maintain consistent executive functioning habits?
A4: Consistency is key. Start small by incorporating one or two strategies at a time. Gradually integrate them into your daily routine, and remember that setbacks are normal. Stay patient and persistent on your journey to honing these skills.

Embrace the new school year armed with a comprehensive toolkit of executive functioning strategies. Elevate your organizational prowess, time management finesse, and problem-solving acumen, setting the stage for a remarkable academic journey and beyond. Your executive functioning skills are the compass to navigate the path to success.

To find out more about BES’s Executive Functioning services, schedule a free call  here or email as at info@basseducationalservices.com

#ExecutiveFunctioning #BackToSchool #SkillsForSuccess

About the author

Samantha Maloney

Samantha has spent the last nine years as a College Reading & Learning Association (CRLA) Certified Master Tutor, homeschool teacher, mentor and curriculum creator. She is an ADDCA Associate Certified Coach and has completed over 150 classroom hours at the ADD Coach Academy with special training for families impacted by ADHD. Samantha has led English language chat sessions for Raritan Valley Community College, received advanced training in tutoring for college admission essays, and has written various curricula ranging from collegiate-level ESL to primary school speech & composition. As a teenager, Samantha lived with undiagnosed ADHD, and spent grades 6-12 procrastinating writing essays and dreading timed writing exams. It wasn’t until her first year at Florida State University where she learned a new process of recursive writing that functioned in tandem with her ADHD brain. Fast forward 13 years, to the height of the pandemic, Samantha homeschooled students that went from a state of boredom and ‘online-school-fatigue’ to a place of engagement by balancing lecture, discussion, interactive games, movement, and mindfulness meditation. With special training in dyslexia, dysgraphia, ADHD, and other learning differences, Samantha has developed a deep appreciation for helping individuals uncover new methods of tackling schoolwork. A teen, who feels scattered, overwhelmed, and easily distracted, walks away with customized tools & education to feel empowered, supported, more confident, and ready for the next step after high school. As a team, Samantha and her clients harness their processing & performance strengths, and utilize them as a vehicle to help them to reach their goals. She has no greater joy than when witnessing an “ah-ha” moment, facilitating a breakthrough, or supporting her students with acceptance and encouragement. Samantha’s mission is simple. She wants all children, teenagers, and young adults to feel empowered and confident both in and out of the classroom. When she’s not facilitating breakthroughs, you can find her instructing yoga, playing with her two dogs, and reading suspense fiction novels.