Executive functions are the essential cognitive self-regulating skills that we use every day to complete just about all our daily tasks. This involves making decisions, planning, organising, remembering things, managing time, shifting between tasks or thoughts, managing impulses and paying attention. For some kids, and more often neurodivergent children, these skills can be more difficult to develop or use.
Challenges in executive function might look like taking a long time to complete a task such as getting dressed when they have the functional skills to do so, becoming overwhelmed when given simple instructions, being easily distracted or having difficulty attending to tasks at school for the required time.
OT supports children and their families through a range of individualised interventions including visual supports, creating routines, teaching cognitive skills, supporting mindfulness and attention, modifying the environment and utilising the child’s strengths to support areas of development.
