Why Executive Functioning Is the Key to Your Child’s Learning Success
We all want our children to thrive don’t we? We want them to thrive not just academically, but socially and emotionally too. Maybe you might have heard about IQ being a predictor of success. But there’s actually something even more important than that. Perhaps many parents are not aware of this, it is Executive Functioning (EF).
Executive functioning plays a vital role in our child’s ability to learn, adapt, and succeed in life.
Let’s explore what executive functioning is, why it’s crucial for our child’s learning, and how we can nurture these essential skills at home.
Before we begin, if you’re always on the go and don’t have much time to read, you can now listen to our podcast on the topic and more!
What Is Executive Functioning?
To put it simply, think of executive functioning as your child’s brain “command center.” It’s a set of cognitive processes that help them do these things:
- Plan and organize
- Control impulses and emotions
- Focus on tasks and ignore distractions
- Adapt to new situations
- Solve problems creatively
Why it is Important for Learning?
Unlike content-based learning (like memorizing facts or letters), executive functioning focuses on how your child learns.
Good executive functioning skills allow children to pursue goals and stay on track. It’s the foundation of skills they’ll need for everything, from tying their shoes to running a business someday.
As quoted in a journal article, with executive functioning, “they have the means to achieve the goals they set for themselves in their lives.”
This shows that executive functioning is a good predictor of success. Perhaps even more so than IQ. This is why it is an important topic for every parent who wants to set their children up for lifelong success.
As the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University notes, “Coming to school with a solid base of these foundational executive function skills is more important than whether children know their letters and numbers.”
The Three Core Components of Executive Functioning
To break it down further, here are the 3 main parts of Executive functioning
- Working Memory:
The ability to hold and use information temporarily. For example, remembering multi-step instructions like “Get your shoes, put on your coat, and grab your backpack.”
- Inhibitory Control:
The ability to self-regulate, focus, and avoid distractions. This is what helps a child resist blurting out answers in class or acting impulsively during group activities.
- Cognitive Flexibility:
The ability to adapt to change, spot mistakes, and come up with creative solutions. For example, switching from one game to another without frustration or problem-solving when something goes wrong.
What happens when children has Poor Executive Functioning
When executive functioning skills are underdeveloped, children may struggle with being able to learn effectively. They will not be able to control their impulses, follow directions properly, focus on tasks, and they may even have some behavioural and social issues. And of course, this may all lead to them struggling academically.
These challenges can make day-to-day life and learning more difficult. But the good news is, we can do something about it as it can be strengthened with the right support.
How Does Executive Functioning Develop in Children?
First, let’s understand how executive functioning develops in children. Executive functioning skills develop slowly over time. From ages 2 to 5, children experience rapid growth in this area of the brain.
Individual differences will begin to emerge as early as age 2, influenced by their:
- Brain plasticity: The brain’s ability to grow and adapt during early years.
- Environmental factors: Parenting style, play opportunities, and daily interactions.
So keeping these 2 factors in mind we know that as parents, we will have to take hold of these sensitive periods where their brains are developing.
How Can Parents Support the Development of Executive Functioning?
The way you interact with your child can significantly impact their executive functioning. Here is how we can make a difference:
- Adopt a Supportive Parenting Style
- Be sensitive and responsive to your child’s needs.
- Comment on their mental states in a positive, understanding way.
- Avoid punitive approaches, which can hinder self-regulation development. Instead, create an environment where your child can practice managing their own behavior.
Building Emotional Intelligence in Kids: What Every Parent Should Know
- Encourage Autonomy
Young children naturally want to do things on their own. Support this by:
- Setting up the environment to allow independence (e.g., low shelves, accessible materials).
- Teaching practical life skills like dressing themselves, pouring water, or cleaning up after play.
The Montessori method is particularly effective in fostering autonomy and executive functioning.
- Communicate Effectively
Use verbal scaffolding to guide your child’s thinking and problem-solving skills. This includes:
- Prompting: “What should we do next?”
- Questioning: “Why do you think this happened?”
- Praising: “You worked so hard to figure that out!”
How to speak about our child’s weakness | An inspiring story
- Promote Play
Play is a natural way for children to develop executive functioning. Through free, child-led play, they learn to:
- Retain information meaningfully.
- Ignore distractions.
- Solve problems and think creatively.
Encourage different types of play, like pretend play, construction play, and outdoor exploration.
30 Simple Play Activity Ideas for Toddlers and Preschoolers
Final Thoughts: Building the Foundation for Lifelong Success
What and why Executive functioning important for children’s learning?
Executive functioning is a powerful predictor of your child’s success—not just in school, but in life. By understanding what it is and how it develops, we can all take practical steps to nurture these skills every day.
Remember, it’s not about overwhelming our child with tasks or expectations. Instead, it’s about creating a supportive environment where they can grow, learn, and thrive.
Sharing is caring! If you found this helpful, please share it with other parents who might benefit from it. Let’s raise strong, confident learners together!
Pssst.. do you find this blog post is useful in helping you become a better parent? But you don’t have time to write the points down?
Hey, I’ve got you covered! I have made an ebook with all the key takeaways along with actionable steps from this blog post. And you know what else? Insya’Allah I will be adding more content to the book as we go along! Don’t worry, it’s totally free. Go ahead and subscribe to our mailing list to get the ebook now!
Don’t forget to pin it to spread the goodness!
