What is Executive Function?

Neurodivergent conditions can have an impact on a young person's executive function. Executive functioning essentially deals with the ability to plan and carry out tasks, and how we organise our lives. 

The way your child's brain should plan and carry out tasks can be split roughly around 6 functions, including: 

• Organising - What do I need to carry out this task?
• Prioritising - In what order do I need to do these steps in?
• Remembering - How did I do this last time?
• Execution - Let's do this thing!
• Flexibility - Could this be done differently?
• Self-Checking - Did I do this right?
  
  

To apply this to a real-world task, you could look at the steps to posting a birthday card:

1. Organising - What do I need to carry out the task? A birthday card, pen, address book, stamp, and post box. 
2. Prioritizing - In what order do I need to do things? Buy the card, think of what to write, write in the card, find the address, write on the envelope, buy a stamp, travel to a post box, and post the card. 
3. Remembering - How did I do this last time? Find the address book, work out the date it needs to arrive by, and where is the post box. When do I need to post it?
4. Execution - Let's do this thing. Try not to forget, try not to get distracted, find the time to go shopping, and find time to get to the postbox before the last collection. 
5. Flexibility - Could this be done differently? Could I buy lots of birthday cards and stamps all at once? Could I set a reminder on my phone? Could I set up an e-card account? 
6. Self-Checking - Did I do it right? Was the card posted on time? Did it go to the right address? Was it stressful posting the card?

For some neurodivergent children, some of these stages can be overwhelming, or they might get stuck at stage one. To understand the effect this can have on your child's life it can be useful to think about some of the tasks your child has to do at home or in school and apply these steps. 

What Can Help Organisation at Home?

Once you begin to understand how your child's executive function can have an effect on day-to-day tasks, it can make it easier to understand how to support them, both at home and at school. Some helpful strategies to try at home could include:

• Trying to keep regular routines. Learning takes time so doing the same tasks often will help your child remember and organise
• Break down big tasks into smaller parts and help them prioritise things which need to be done first
• Ask your child to repeat instructions back to you
• Try working backwards – if your child is struggling to start a task, start at the end and do the steps backwards
• Work together and talk about the stages of the task, for example, cook together. This is a great task to teach the following stages. Start with making the list, go shopping and then follow the step-by-step cooking instructions
• Use a whiteboard or chalkboard to write a diary/notes to remember and help your child to make to-do lists or use a scheduling or diary app on their phone
• Try organising their bedrooms using coloured boxes/containers. Let them help and choose a place for their different items
• Try giving chores which require sorting and ordering. For example, grocery shopping, sorting out holiday pictures into an album, organising the airing cupboard and group items, emptying the dishwasher or putting items away in the correct places

How to Support Organisation at School?

It can be helpful to contact your child's teacher or speak to the school special educational needs and disabilities coordinator (SENDCo) to discuss any concerns you have about your child's organisation skills. They may be able to suggest some support, which could include:

• Your child may need written instructions to help remind them – try to bullet point a list or just word prompts or a picture. This could be printed out and kept in their pencil case or pocket to refer to.
• Cue cards can be used to break down the sequence of activities. For example, clear the desk, collect equipment needed, put the date at the top of the page.
• Visual timetables.
• Colour coordination of timetable and school books.
• Transparent purses and pencil cases let them see the contents easily.
• Ensure they finish one task before starting another.
• Your child may find attending homework clubs useful.