WELLBEING AND INCLUSION

What is executive functioning?

Executive functions are the essential self-regulating skills that we all use every day to accomplish just about everything. They help us plan, organise, make decisions, shift between situations or thoughts, control our emotions and impulsivity, and learn from past mistakes. We all rely on executive functioning skills for everything from taking a shower to packing a backpack and picking priorities.

What are some executive functioning skills needed at school?

· Following instructions

· Following school rules

· Waiting my turn

· Completing school work

· Managing emotions

· Focusing on tasks

· Coping with hard things

· Task initiation

· Remembering instructions

· Getting along with peers

· Impulse control

· Perspective taking

· Identifying solutions

· Transitoning between activities

How can executive functioning impact a day?

Dr Ross Greene, a clinical psychologist, explains that, ‘Kids do well when they can.’ In terms of executive functioning, this means that when children are well regulated, they are often able to access and demonstrate the executive functioning skills that they have. During this time, they will also need help and support with the executive functioning skills they are still learning. However, when dysregulated, children cannot access the executive functioning skills that they do have. Many things can cause dysregulation including big emotions, sensory overwhelm, illness, tiredness, mental fatigue, unexpected change and discomfort.

What can be done when executive functioning skills are lacking?

This is the time to encourage regulation strategies! What helps regulation? Breaks, movement, walks, fidget tools, a drink, fresh air, quiet time, headphones etc. Children need this time to regulate before they can successfully engage in tasks. Its always good to remember that if a child is well regulated, executive functioning skills go up and when a child is dysregulated, executive functioning skills go down.

How to support the development of executive functioning skills?

· Support and encourage regulation.

· Model taking breaks and talk about what you do to self-regulate.

· Find out what types of regulation work best for your child.

· Prevent dysregulation when possible.

· Support and help to develop executive functioning skills (You do, we do, I do!).

· Regular Breaks.

Source: Neurowild

Virginnia Gilham and Sarah Jeffreys