How to Develop Executive Function in Children

Executive function are skills that help people to focus, plan, prioritize, work toward goals, adapt to new and unexpected conditions, as well as engage in abstract thinking and planning. 

Aside from these, executive functions also oversee and arrange a lot of tasks. But how to develop executive function, especially in children?

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Contrary to what people think, executive function does not refer to a single skill and does not grow in a linear way. By default in childhood, that is challenging. 

The reason behind this is the fact that although executive function skills begin to evolve in the first year of life, they are not fully grown until early adulthood. 

Despite this, studies have shown that this can well be improved in many ways. 

To help you, here are some ways on how to develop executive function in children. 

Using digital or computerized programs

Since we are currently in the digital world, there is nothing online or on the computer that can't help us. One thing to help on how to develop such a skill is by using programs that can help with children's language, memory, brain, and many more. 

One program that can help developing such a skill is Mightier. This program consists of serious training that can be done with many sessions per week or for five to 15 weeks to help with a child's working memory or impulse control. 

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"Tools of the Mind" approach

One thing that can help on how to develop executive function in children is when they are at school and with the help of their teachers and peers. 

The "Tools of the Mind" approach involves a focus on teaching skills through drama plays and learning with other people and students. 

For example, in classrooms, children learn skills such as taking turns, active listening and learning how to solve problems in a creative way. 

Physical activity

Activities like exercises, yoga practice, and sports can help in learning to achieve such a skill since they require children to hold rules and game plans in mind, adapt flexibility to other people's actions, and assess their own actions and behavior. 

Mindfulness 

Mindfulness training involves the practice of bringing one's self and attention to the present moment, to what we are doing and what we are feeling at the moment, without judgment. 

This can help children mainly because stress is one thing that freezes children's way to apply such a skill. So, this training seems like an ideal candidate. 

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There is really no certain way to improve and grow executive function in children. 

However, the best way and the best approach is one that considers each child's strengths and weaknesses, as well as their family's needs and functioning. 

You can't offer an intense program to an anxious and stressed kid already since it will not be the best and a very good option. Finally, the relationship of children with their parents is the key. 

It is the parents' family's support that can help children achieve this. So certainly, this is one of the most effective and lasting foundations to improve such a skill.