Counselor from Grow Wellness Group outlines strategies to strengthen children’s executive functioning

A counselor at Grow Wellness Group and school counselor at Mattia High School led a parent workshop on executive functioning and offered practical strategies parents can use to help children organize, manage time and build self-control.

The presenter cited Harvard’s definition that executive functions are "mental skills that help individuals perform everyday tasks and meet goals," and emphasized three core areas commonly discussed by researchers: working memory, cognitive flexibility and self-control. She said those skills underpin classroom performance and daily routines and can be strengthened at home through deliberate routines and practice.

The presentation focused first on organization and building systems that let children track progress. The presenter suggested ground rules co-created with children, school planners or calendars, checklists and a consistent system parents and children both agree on. "You want to encourage or help your child create a system that they can thrive in," she said.…