By: Tamara Funabashi, M.S., CCC-SLP

Executive functioning skills are essential for goal-oriented tasks. They are embedded in every tasks we do at any age. Executive functioning skills include the ability to plan, organize, and self-monitor, as well as initiate, execute, and conclude a task.

Now picture this: it’s a school morning and you are in the midst of getting everyone ready to leave. Maybe someone is moving too slowly. Maybe someone keeps hitting snooze. Maybe you’re out the door, but you need to turn around to grab the lunchbox that was left behind. Mornings are often a time where efficiency is particularly necessary – every person in the house needs to be out of bed, dressed, fed, and out the door for the day’s activities. For many of us, however, mornings are more hectic than we’d like. Often, these hold-ups in the morning are caused by difficulties in one or more of the executive functioning areas.

Developmental Milestones:

Below are a few executive functioning milestones that pertain to your child’s participation at home:

Ages 4-5:

  • Run “errands” around the house (2-3 step directions)

Ages 6-8:

  • Tidy bedroom or playroom
  • Bring papers to and from school

Ages 9-11:

  • Perform chores that take 15-30 minutes
  • Bring books, papers, and assignments to and from school
  • Keep track of changing daily schedule (e.g., different activities after school)

Ages 12-14:

  • Help out with daily responsibilities and occasional tasks around home
  • Use a system for organizing schoolwork
  • Plan time – including after school activities, homework, and family responsibilities

Suggestions to Support Executive Functioning Skills

Streamline your child’s morning routine (or possibly your own!) with the following strategies:

Everything has a “home”

Establish a location for all your necessary morning items. You can use a key rack, canvas bin, or get creative with an item you already own. This will eliminate the “Can you help me find…?” daily exchange. A special spot for certain items helps with organization.

Picture Perfect

Lay everything out that belongs in the backpack/bookbag/lunchbox and take a picture. Then, print the picture out and place it in a convenient and accessible location. Your child can use the picture to pack their bag themselves. A photo packing list helps with organization.

Visual Schedule

Schedules with pictures are easily accessible for children who cannot read yet and remove the stress of printed words for new readers. Take pictures of your child completing each step of their morning routine or find relevant pictures online. You can place the visual schedule in a clear page protector so your child can cross off each step as they move through the routine. Or you can cut out each picture for your child to place in a “done” bin as they complete the tasks. A visual schedule helps with task execution and self-monitoring. Read more about visual schedules HERE (link).

Easy Mini Goal

Sometimes, the hardest part of any task is getting started. Try encouraging your child to complete a mini goal before beginning the official “morning routine” schedule. Getting up and out of bed followed by multiple morning steps can seem daunting – and may lead to further burrowing under the covers. A mini goal should be easily accomplished – like getting out of bed and putting on your slippers or robe. Once the mini goal is achieved, your child’s body and mind will be ready to tackle the next step of the morning routine. It may seem simple, but this is a recommendation not to sleep on (literally). Mini goals help with task initiation.

Must and Maybe List

On certain days, our bodies move faster – or slower – than others. Sit down with your child and create a “Must and Maybe” list together. Morning Musts likely include brushing teeth, eating breakfast, and getting dressed. Morning Maybes might include reading a book, playing with toys, or watching a short TV show. Morning Musts should be completed before Morning Maybes! A Must and Maybe list helps with planning, task execution, and task completion.

Experiment with Time

Not enough time to pick out an outfit in the morning? Struggling to pack a bag before rushing out the door? Try offloading these tasks to another time of day, like the night before. Testing out modifications to your schedule helps with planning and task completion.

These strategies can be modified to suit your child and lifestyle. Developing basic executive functioning skills early will promote your child’s success later in life.