Whether you are new to the Autism scene or you've been around for a while, you'll come across the term "executive function." What does it mean? How does it affect my child? What can I do to improve executive function? These may be some of the questions you are asking yourself right now. Executive function is a mental process that has everything to do with planning, focus, remembering instructions, and multitasking.
Executive function is needed for the variety of tasks above, and the difference for an autistic person can present itself in several ways. For example, your child may have difficulty in planning, being organised, or regulating their emotions. From this variety of skills you can see just how complicated things can get when we are trying to manage different types of functions, like emotions during transitions. Other children may have difficulty paying attention to you or classroom tasks. Your child may find it difficult to move from one activity to another or they may not initiate a new activity on their own.
Though there are many ways that executive function can effect your child’s day to day life, there are some things you can do to set their day up for success.
Tips and tricks to help with executive function:
- Make routines or schedules visual! The regular tasks that your child needs to do should be made into a visual. This will help your child stay on task and serve as a reminder if they do get a little lost when completing a chore or every day activity. From calendars to longer visual schedules, the visuals will help to support your child’s understanding of the activity, process or day.
- Break down tasks into smaller pieces. This will help your child stay regulated while supporting them through a harder task. They are likely to get more done if you can assist them with small steps.
- Slow down and give time for processing. Your child may need this type of support to allow them to register what you are saying, and they may need you to say the instruction a couple of times over.
- Remove distractions. Distractions occur in all sorts of shapes and sizes. If your child is easily distracted, you may try to limit the amount of stimulation that’s around, like sounds, smells, light, etc. Removing or experimenting with these could help your child with focus.
Try out a few of these modifications, and let us know how it goes!
Kindred Kids would also love to support your understanding of developmental delays by inviting you to a free webinar hosted by Sam, our Founder, and Erin, our Lead Practitioner. There will be a question and answer segment to allow for any specific or more general topics that you may have for them. See you there! Follow this link to register: https://meet.zoho.com.au/vWn2A6ei8C
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