| Executive functions are the brain skills that children | | | | functions, what is "normal" for certain age groups and |
| and adolescents use for a variety of thinking tasks - | | | | when there is cause for concern. It offers practical |
| including organization, planning, attention, self-control | | | | improvement strategies for both parents and |
| (also called regulation, self-monitoring or emotional | | | | teachers of children and adolescents. The author also |
| control), self-awareness, flexibility, initiation | | | | has a wonderful website that includes an executive |
| (motivation), and working memory. These are skills | | | | skills checklist so you can review if your child may |
| that develop throughout youth, sometimes into a | | | | have a challenge with one or more executive |
| person's early to mid-twenties. | | | | functions, a newsletter, and lots of practical parenting |
| So if your child is forever losing personal items, gets | | | | information. |
| to homework at the last minute, has melt-downs | | | | Another similar book is "Late, Lost and Unprepared " |
| over small things, or isn't achieving as expected in | | | | by psychologists Joyce Cooper Kahn and Laurie |
| school, you may be looking at delayed executive skill | | | | Dietzel. Along with offering hundreds of |
| development. | | | | common-sense interventions for a variety of |
| Executive dysfunction is found in children and teens | | | | situations, these caring authors remind us to be |
| of all ability levels. It is a common in children with | | | | compassionate and offer empathy to children with |
| learning disabilities and ADHD. It is also frequently | | | | these problems. |
| seen in children with very high IQ - think | | | | Also, "Executive Skills in Children and Adolescents: A |
| "absent-minded professor." | | | | Practical Guide to Assessment and Intervention" by |
| So before you punish your child, demand a meeting | | | | school psychologist Peg Guare, EdD and |
| with school teachers, or ask your child's doctor for a | | | | neuropsychologist Richard Guare, PhD is an excellent |
| prescription, there are two key things to know: | | | | guide for clinicians wishing to review the assessment |
| 1) It's not usually an attitude problem - it's a brain | | | | and treatment options. They also wrote the more |
| processing problem | | | | parent-geared "Smart But Scattered: The |
| 2) These skills can be improved | | | | Revolutionary "Executive Skills" Approach to Helping |
| In order to help your child develop these critical skills, | | | | Kids Reach Their Potential." |
| there are a few parent-friendly books on the topic. | | | | Being an informed parent about executive skills can |
| The primary book is "No Mind Left Behind - | | | | save you and your child a lot of unnecessary stress, |
| Understanding and Fostering Executive Control - The | | | | conflict and failure. These books provide valuable |
| Eight Essential Brain Skills Every Child Needs to | | | | resources to help your child or teen to be successful |
| Thrive" by clinical psychologist Adam J. Cox, PhD. This | | | | in school and life. |
| book clearly explains the eight different executive | | | | |