Executive Functioning: Be Ready for the School Year!
No! I said I don’t want to!
For one young girl, the start of the school year always felt dreadful. The anxiety of having to learn new schedules, be with new teachers, see new people, and have more responsibility filled the young girl with stress, and as she began the new school year, she quickly fell behind. Her inability to keep her different classes organized, remember what was due and when, keep track of time, and poor initiation skills caused all of her tasks to pile up. As the to-do list grew and grew, the young girl became less and less motivated before not trying at all anymore. It was all too much. She even began not doing things at home either, such as her chores, cleaning her room, or even socializing with her friends, which worried the girl’s parents who reached out to the Support for Students Growth Center for help.
There, the young girl met with a coach weekly to try and avoid having her underdeveloped executive functioning skills prevent her from enjoying her new school year. She learned different strategies such as utilizing a color-coded planner, timers, and skills such as planning for the week ahead. With these skills and a level of accountability, the young girl was able to start taking control of her school life again.
Now that school is now back, it is important that the students can transition into a routine that includes more responsibilities—such as doing homework—before they fall behind. Being able to manage their time so they have enough to finish a project, keep their things organized, transition between classes and tasks, and so much more are all essential executive functioning skills needed to have a successful school year. Without them, they may struggle to maintain a school life-balance. Ensuring your homework is not only done, but on time, not only listening, but remembering parts of a task (working memory), initiating a task, managing time, etc., are all things that help them make time for the fun parts of life. However, if their executive functioning skills are not at an age-appropriate level, then they may run into other issues such as isolation, stress, avoidance, failing classes, emotional outbursts, etc., all of which may hinder them from becoming the most successful person they can be.
Executive functioning skills help us keep things in control. They not only allow complete tasks and other things but do so in a way that is effective, so we do not have to worry about it later. If we are unable to do so, then we may begin running in circles, constantly trying to get a never-ending list done. According to one source, “…up to 80% of those with autism suffer from executive function disorder, leading to difficulties managing time, completing tasks, and making what might be thought of as simple tasks – like cleaning your room – very complicated or seemingly impossible.” (NHS, n.d.). With such a high percentage of those being affected, it is important that the skills that may not come as easy to them are being taught to them in a way that is effective for them, and the Support for Students Growth Center has the tools to do just that.
At the Support for Students Growth Center, we provide social, behavioral, educational, emotional, and executive functioning skills services children, teens, young adults, and their families, who may be Neurodivergent or not need for a happy and successful life in and out of school settings. Our team of professionals offers individualized and family coaching/counseling and social skills groups to help teach skills such as how to remain organized to ensure parents do not have to worry that their kids will be unable to make and maintain a functioning independent life on their own. So, if your child is struggling with skills like the ones listed above and much more, the SSGC is equipped with the tools to help.
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Dr. Eric J. Nach, Ph.D., M.Ed., A.S.D.C., is a Developmental and Behavioral Specialist who specializes in Autism, ADHD and related disorders. Dr. Nach is the founder of the Support for Students Growth Center and College Life Skills Program where he and his team of professional’s help develop the Emotional Maturity, Executive Functioning, Life Skill and Social Abilities of children, teens, young adults and college students and those high school students preparing for college.
NHS. (n.d.). NHS choices. https://www.leicspart.nhs.uk/autism-space/health-and-lifestyle/autism-and-executive-functioning-skills/#:~:text=Some%20research%20suggests%20that%20up,very%20complicated%20or%20seemingly%20impossible.
