Executive Function

At LiteracyTLC, we understand that Executive Function skills are crucial in paving the path toward a child’s academic success and overall confidence. According to research (Gallagher et al., 2014), children with ADHD and other Executive Function challenges who are not given implicit instruction in these skills are at risk for academic disengagement, failure, and other adverse outcomes. That is why we provide evidence-based intervention designed to improve critical executive function skills in organization, time-management, planning and instructional strategies for attentional control and self-regulation. 

Studies by the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University have determined that EF depends upon three mental functions that operate in coordination with each other. These are working memory, cognitive flexibility, and self-control. They write: 

Each type of executive function skill draws on elements of the others.

• Working memory governs our ability to retain and manipulate distinct pieces of information over short periods of time.
• Mental flexibility helps us to sustain or shift attention in response to different demands or to apply different rules in different settings.
• Self-control enables us to set priorities and resist impulsive actions or responses.

The good news is that children can be taught these skills.