Executive Functioning
- Organization, prioritizing, and focus skills are part of a skill set often referred to as executive functioning skills.
- Here is a short video from Harvard University on Executive Functioning.
- “Executive function is a set of mental processes that helps connect past experience with present action. People use it to perform activities such as planning, organizing, strategizing, paying attention to and remembering details, and managing time and space.”
- Helping Students that Struggle with Executive Functioning
Self-Regulation
- Self-regulation is another skill set that help children be successful both in and outside the classroom.
- Being able to self-regulate means a child is able to remain calm, alert and focused. It often strongly linked to self-control and self-awareness. There have been several interesting studies related to a child’s ability to control their impulses or to “emotionally regulate” themselves. The most famous it the Marshmallow Experiment.
- When a child is experiencing stress, they burn energy. If they burn too much energy, they may become anxious, become sleepy or lose focus.
- Children need to learn two things:
- What causes them stress and burns energy?
- What activities help them feel calm and creates energy?
There are four key practices that [you] can undertake in order to enhance children’s development of self-regulation.
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- BE A DETECTIVE: Try to figure out your child’s stressors, what helps the child stay calm and alert, what leaves a child hypo- or hyper-aroused?
- EXERCISE: For a child who wakes up irritable, exercise that works their deep muscles is very effective.
- MINDFULNESS PROGRAMS: By using mindfulness principles we can help children to identify their own arousal states. Try using the car analogy for example my engine is running really fast, really slow or just right….
- PLAY: When play emerges from children’s interests it will engage their focus. It will help them to consider the perspectives of others and figure out what they are thinking. Play encourages communication about wants and fosters connections between objects, people & ideas….”
Social Emotional Concerns:
- BC Government COVID specific supports for youth and families
- SuperFlex & Social Thinking are programs that encourage children to become social detectives and be more aware of expected behaviours.
- Please consult your child’s doctor for a professional opinion on what may be impacting your child.
Learning Challenges:
- Understanding Learning Disabilities – The Learning Disabilities Association of British Columbia
- ADD/ADHD – BC Children’s Hospital ADHD Program & Canadian Mental Health Association
- Anxiety – Anxiety BC & Anxiety Canada – Mindshift App for youth
- Autism & Asperger’s – Autism Society of BC & My Asperger’s Child
- Central Auditory Processing Disorder
- Dyslexia
If you have concerns around anxiety and other mental health issues, contact Vancouver’s Child and Youth Mental Health’s central intake number at (604) 675-3895 and request either a referral or professional consultation.