When parents think about school success, they often focus on reading, writing, and math. While these academic skills are important, there is another set of skills that often determines whether a child can successfully learn, complete assignments, stay organized, and reach their full potential in the classroom: executive functioning skills.
Executive functioning skills are the brain’s management system. They help children plan, organize, focus, remember information, regulate emotions, and complete tasks. Without strong executive functioning skills, even the brightest students can struggle academically.
At Crawl Walk Jump Run (CWJR) Therapy Clinic, our Occupational Therapists (OTs) and Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) work together to help children develop these essential skills, setting the stage for academic success, independence, and confidence.
What Are Executive Functioning Skills?
Executive functioning refers to a group of mental processes that help us manage our thoughts, actions, and behaviors to achieve goals.
These skills allow children to:
- Start and complete tasks
- Stay focused
- Follow directions
- Organize materials
- Manage time
- Control impulses
- Solve problems
- Remember information
- Adapt to changes
- Regulate emotions
Think of executive functioning as the “air traffic control system” of the brain. It helps children manage multiple pieces of information and successfully navigate the demands of school and everyday life.
Why Are Executive Functioning Skills Important in School?
Every school day requires executive functioning.
Children use these skills when they:
Follow Multi-Step Directions
Examples:
- Take out your homework folder.
- Turn to page 25.
- Complete questions 1-10.
- Put your paper in the basket.
A child with executive functioning difficulties may only remember the first step.
Complete Assignments Independently
Students must:
- Understand the task
- Gather materials
- Stay on task
- Finish the work
- Turn it in
Executive functioning helps children move through each step successfully.
Manage Time
School requires children to:
- Complete work within time limits
- Transition between activities
- Meet deadlines
- Balance homework and extracurricular activities
Without strong time management skills, children may frequently feel overwhelmed.
Stay Organized
Students must keep track of:
- Backpacks
- Folders
- Homework
- School supplies
- Important papers
Poor organization can lead to missing assignments, frustration, and academic struggles.
Regulate Emotions
Learning can be challenging.
Children need executive functioning skills to:
- Manage frustration
- Recover from mistakes
- Handle disappointment
- Persevere through difficult tasks
Emotional regulation plays a significant role in classroom success.
Signs Your Child May Be Struggling with Executive Functioning
Children with executive functioning challenges may:
- Frequently lose homework or school materials
- Have difficulty following directions
- Forget assignments
- Struggle to begin tasks
- Become easily distracted
- Have trouble transitioning between activities
- Need constant reminders
- Become overwhelmed by large projects
- Have difficulty managing emotions
- Struggle with problem-solving
These challenges are common in children with:
- ADHD
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Learning Disabilities
- Developmental Delays
- Language Disorders
- Neurological Conditions
However, executive functioning difficulties can affect any child.
How Occupational Therapy Helps Develop Executive Functioning Skills
Occupational Therapy focuses on helping children participate successfully in daily activities, including school, home routines, and social interactions.
OTs address many of the underlying skills that support executive functioning.
Attention and Focus
Occupational Therapists help children improve:
- Sustained attention
- Task persistence
- Self-monitoring
- Managing distractions
These skills allow children to stay engaged during classroom instruction and independent work.
Organization Skills
OTs teach practical strategies for:
- Managing school materials
- Using planners and visual schedules
- Organizing workspaces
- Creating routines
Strong organizational skills help children become more independent and successful at school.
Time Management
Children learn strategies for:
- Breaking tasks into manageable steps
- Estimating time requirements
- Prioritizing activities
- Completing assignments efficiently
These skills become increasingly important as academic demands increase.
Emotional Regulation
Many children struggle academically not because they lack intelligence, but because they become overwhelmed by frustration or anxiety.
Occupational Therapy helps children:
- Recognize emotions
- Develop coping strategies
- Improve self-regulation
- Build resilience
When children can manage emotions effectively, they are better able to learn and participate.
Sensory Processing Support
Executive functioning is difficult when a child’s nervous system is dysregulated.
OTs help children address sensory challenges that may interfere with:
- Attention
- Behavior
- Classroom participation
- Learning
Sensory regulation strategies often improve a child’s ability to focus and complete tasks.
How Speech Therapy Helps Develop Executive Functioning Skills
Many people are surprised to learn that Speech-Language Pathologists play a significant role in executive functioning development.
Language and executive functioning are closely connected.
Children use language to think, organize information, solve problems, and manage tasks.
Following Directions
SLPs help children improve their ability to:
- Process verbal information
- Follow multi-step directions
- Retain information
- Complete tasks independently
These skills are critical for academic success.
Working Memory
Working memory is the ability to hold information in your mind while using it.
Examples include:
- Remembering instructions
- Solving math problems
- Answering reading comprehension questions
- Following classroom discussions
Speech therapy often targets working memory through language-based activities and structured problem-solving tasks.
Problem Solving and Critical Thinking
Executive functioning requires children to think through challenges and develop solutions.
SLPs help children learn to:
- Analyze situations
- Generate solutions
- Predict outcomes
- Make decisions
- Explain reasoning
These skills support academic performance and real-world success.
Language Organization
Many children struggle to organize their thoughts effectively.
Speech therapy helps children:
- Sequence information
- Tell stories
- Explain ideas clearly
- Organize written and verbal responses
These skills are essential for classroom participation and academic achievement.
Self-Talk and Internal Language
One often-overlooked executive functioning skill is internal self-talk.
Children use inner language to:
- Plan actions
- Stay focused
- Problem solve
- Monitor behavior
SLPs help strengthen these language skills, which directly support executive functioning.
Why Collaboration Between OT and SLP Matters
Executive functioning challenges rarely affect only one area of development.
For example, a child may:
- Have trouble staying organized (OT)
- Struggle to remember directions (SLP)
- Become overwhelmed by sensory input (OT)
- Have difficulty explaining their thoughts (SLP)
- Struggle with emotional regulation (OT and SLP)
When Occupational Therapists and Speech-Language Pathologists collaborate, they can address executive functioning from multiple angles.
This comprehensive approach often leads to greater progress and more meaningful outcomes.
Building Executive Functioning Skills Before Problems Escalate
Executive functioning challenges often become more noticeable as children get older.
As academic expectations increase, students must manage:
- Multiple teachers
- Larger workloads
- Long-term projects
- Complex schedules
- Increased independence
Early intervention can help children develop the tools they need before these demands become overwhelming.
Strong executive functioning skills benefit children not only in school but throughout their lives.
How CWJR Therapy Clinic Can Help
At Crawl Walk Jump Run Therapy Clinic, our Occupational Therapists and Speech-Language Pathologists work together to help children build the executive functioning skills necessary for academic success.
We help children develop:
- Attention and focus
- Organization skills
- Time management
- Working memory
- Emotional regulation
- Problem-solving abilities
- Following directions
- Language organization
- Self-monitoring skills
Our individualized treatment plans are designed to meet each child where they are and help them achieve meaningful progress in school, at home, and in the community.
The Skills Behind the Success
Academic success is about much more than intelligence. Children need the ability to plan, organize, focus, remember, regulate emotions, and solve problems to thrive in today’s classrooms.
Executive functioning skills are the foundation that supports learning, independence, and confidence.
Through Occupational Therapy and Speech Therapy, children can strengthen these essential skills and develop the tools they need to succeed both now and in the future.
Interested in Learning More?
Contact CWJR Therapy Clinic today to schedule an evaluation and learn how Occupational Therapy and Speech Therapy can help your child build the executive functioning skills needed for success in school and beyond.
Crawl Walk Jump Run Therapy Clinic
Helping children develop the skills to learn, grow, and thrive since 2006.
