Executive function describes a set of brain-based skills that allow humans to focus their attention (on the right things), monitor their own actions, and make mistakes but use the feedback to adjust.
The Center on the Developing Child out of Harvard University likens executive skills to air traffic control.
In the brain, the ability to hold onto and work with information, focus thinking, filter distractions, and switch gears is like an airport having a highly effective air traffic control system to manage the arrivals and departures of dozens of planes on multiple runways.
Genetics lay the foundation for these skills but they are built through experiences and learning. While happening into experience is one way to learn, these skills can and should be actively taught and developed.
Learning in the context of play and relationship is ideal to building these skills.
That’s right… executive function skills can be learned through PLAY!
We now know that neuroplasicity (the ability to make brain changes) occurs throughout the lifespan. This is great news! We can all continue learning new skills. However, we also know that are a couple of periods of rapid brain growth = early childhood and adolescence. These are developmental periods to take advantage of brain development and lay foundational skills.
People with developed executive skills plan ahead, are goal-directed, display self-control, initiate and complete tasks, are strategic and organized (among other traits). Sounds pretty great, right?
These skills take some time and practice but gradually allow individuals to manage more and more information with independence and confidence.
If you want to learn more about executive skills, I have created a series of emails that define executive function, provide a link to a free executive skills profile then define the skills one by one. Each email tackles one skill, what it looks like when it is strong, what it looks like when this is a challenge area, some ideas for developing this skill (including links to games you can buy!), and even some consideration of how this might overlap with some clinical considerations. Just click below and get this series delivered to your inbox!
Before you go, here is one of my favorite resources on Executive Function.
