Why are Executive Function Skills Essential?
Executive function skills serve as the “CEO” of our brain, guiding our capacity to organize, manage time, and plan. These skills are vital for success, not only in school but also in life. Below are examples of how executive functions impact a teenager’s life and how our executive function coaches can help:
Effective Organization
Executive skills empower teenagers to maintain an organized life. Students with strong executive skills can keep their tasks, schedules, and responsibilities well-structured and efficient, while those with weaker skills may struggle to maintain order.
Time Management
Good executive function skills allow teens to manage their time wisely. Strong skills help students complete assignments on time, set priorities, and effectively allocate their time between various tasks.
Planning & Goal Setting
Teenagers with robust executive function skills excel in setting goals and creating a plan to achieve them. These skills help students establish long-term objectives, like getting into a desired college or pursuing a specific career.
Effective Study Habits
Executive skills play a significant role in study habits. Students with strong executive function skills can establish effective study routines, while others may struggle with focus, procrastination, and maintaining a productive study environment.
How Can Mindfish Help?
Mindfish’s Executive Function Coaching focuses on setting goals in collaboration with both the student and parent. We then work consistently with the student to develop daily plans to work toward their objectives. For students with executive function challenges, we recommend starting with our Initial Consultation and Planning program.
Our Planning Process
The Initial Consultation and Planning program involves a detailed assessment of the student’s executive function skills. This includes discussions, interviews, and written evaluations for both the student and parent.
Finding What Works for You
The program begins with a meeting involving the student, parent, and coach, where the coach assesses the student’s current executive functioning skills. By the end of this session, the coach will identify goals for the student’s future progress.
Following the initial assessment, the student and coach collaborate to define the goals they’ll be working on. The student will then have periodic meetings with their coach to monitor their progress, make necessary plan adjustments, and seek feedback and guidance.