Why is Executive Function important?

Executive functioning skills encompass the cognitive abilities in order to self-direct for a future goal.

Think of our brain as the director of a movie or a CEO of a company. In these positions, it is their job to “cue” the workers or actors what to DO.

The workers are the parts of the cognitive process which allow us to attend, plan, organize, and self-direct. Our brain is the “cuer” while our executive functioning skills are the “doers.”

When our brain has a difficult time “cueing” the “doers”, our cognitive abilities are not able to execute plans, tasks, homework, or studying in its most efficient way.

We can see executive functioning skills needing support when children struggle with attending to a task for more than 2 minutes or when a college student has a hard time completing a 5-page paper.

Not having the appropriate tools to enhance cognitive abilities can make learning, reading, grocery shopping, and recalling important details that much more difficult and frustrating.