Is My Child Struggling with Executive Function Skills?
Lily Baiser, MS, OTR/L
Executive functions are the cognitive skills required for goal-directed behaviors. In other words, they are the foundational skills we need to manage our lives and achieve our goals — whether those goals are seemingly small, like brushing your teeth in the morning, or much larger, like finishing a multi-step project.
One of the clearest ways to understand executive functions is to think of them as the foundation of a house. The house may have smooth walls, beautiful windows, and a shiny new roof — but if the foundation crumbles, the entire structure becomes unstable.
Likewise, a child may be bright, social, or athletic — but without solid executive function skills, they may struggle with completing classwork, following directions, playing cooperatively, or managing big feelings. The outside might look “fine,” but the internal systems need strengthening.
💡 Executive Function Inefficiency: What It Looks Like in Real Life
Executive functions are hard for most “outside the box” children. When these skills are underdeveloped, they lead to executive dysfunction, which often causes difficulty with regulation — not just of emotions, but also of attention, thinking (cognition), and behavior.
There are twelve key executive functions that support a child’s ability to self-regulate and participate in daily life:
🧠 The 12 Executive Function Skills
Inhibition
The ability to control impulses, resist distractions, and inhibit inappropriate behaviors or responses.Attention Regulation
The capacity to sustain focus, shift attention when needed, and ignore distractions to maintain concentration.Emotional Regulation
The skill to manage and regulate one's emotions, including recognizing, expressing, and controlling feelings in appropriate ways.Working Memory
The ability to hold and manipulate information in mind to perform tasks effectively and solve problems.Flexibility
The capacity to adapt to changing situations, shift perspectives, and adjust strategies when needed.Planning
The skill to set goals, develop action plans, and organize steps to achieve desired outcomes.Problem-Solving
The ability to analyze situations, identify problems, and generate effective solutions to overcome challenges.Organization
The capacity to arrange materials, thoughts, or tasks in an orderly and effective manner.Initiation
The ability to begin a task independently and efficiently, without excessive procrastination or prompting.Task Completion
The ability to persist through a task and follow it through to the end, even if it’s challenging or uninteresting.Time Management
The capacity to estimate how long tasks will take and manage time appropriately to complete responsibilities on schedule.Self-Monitoring
The ability to assess and adjust one’s own performance during a task to improve outcomes.
When these skills are still developing, everyday moments can feel harder than they “should.” The good news? These are skills that can grow — with the right support.
You might notice executive function inefficiency in moments like:
A child who melts down when it’s time to stop screen time
A child who panics when routines change or plans shift unexpectedly
A child who argues or shuts down when asked to clean their room
A child who forgets multi-step instructions, even though you just said them
A child who can’t get started on homework unless you're sitting right there
These aren’t behavior problems. They’re signs that the skills underneath the task haven’t developed yet.
👀 What to Pay Attention to When Considering Executive Function Challenges
Every child has hard days — but when certain patterns repeat across environments and routines, it may be time to take a closer look. Here are some signals that executive function struggles might be at play:
Tasks that seem simple for other kids are consistently hard for your child
Big emotional reactions happen during small transitions or surprises
Your child avoids starting tasks — even ones they enjoy — without support
They frequently lose, forget, or misplace items, despite reminders
You feel like you have to repeat yourself constantly — and follow up every step
They struggle to shift between activities, especially when stopping something they love
They give up quickly when something gets hard or unfamiliar
You notice patterns of procrastination, frustration, or shutdowns when routines change
If you’ve seen yourself in any of these examples, you’re not alone — and it doesn’t mean your child isn’t trying. It likely means they need more support developing the foundational executive skills that many other kids build naturally over time.
🧠 A Closer Look: EF Skill → Real-Life Challenge → How Kinspire Helps
Let’s explore how specific executive function challenges show up in everyday life — and how Kinspire supports families like yours.
Skill: Inhibition
Real-Life Challenge: Your child knows they’re not supposed to hit their sibling when frustrated… but they do it anyway.
How Kinspire Helps:
We teach co-regulation strategies and impulse-control tools like sensory breaks, movement routines, and visual reminders — all tailored to your child’s age and needs.
Skill: Emotional Regulation
Real-Life Challenge: A small change in routine — like a different pickup person or surprise errand — leads to a complete meltdown.
How Kinspire Helps:
We create gentle transition plans using visuals, scripts, and emotional labeling strategies that help your child feel safe and in control when the plan changes.
Skill: Working Memory
Real-Life Challenge: You say, “Put on your shoes, grab your water bottle, and meet me at the door,” and they forget everything after “put on your shoes.”
How Kinspire Helps:
We use visual step-by-step guides, task-sequencing songs, and memory-building games to help your child carry instructions across time.
Skill: Task Initiation
Real-Life Challenge: Homework sits untouched… until you stand over them and guide every step.
How Kinspire Helps:
We build motivating “start routines,” introduce timers and visuals, and teach parents how to fade support over time — so kids can gain confidence and independence.
💬 How Kinspire Supports Families
At Kinspire, we match you with a dedicated occupational therapist who is experienced in supporting parents raising children with executive function challenges.
Your Kinspire OT will be with you every step of the way — helping you:
Understand what executive function inefficiency looks like in your daily life
Develop a deeper understanding of where your child is at — and what they’re ready for next
Learn how to support, guide, and scaffold their growth
Receive coaching, parent education, and custom-built tools designed specifically for the challenges you’re navigating
And most importantly, you’ll have a trusted partner every day as you implement strategies, respond to tough moments, and celebrate the small wins that signal progress.
This is not just therapy. This is a continuous care model built to support real families in real time — through:
✅ Daily messaging access to your therapist through our Continuous Care Platform™
✅ Personalized routines and visuals that fit your family’s lifestyle
✅ Ongoing coaching, feedback, and strategy adjustments as life evolves
✅ Whole-family support — including transitions, sibling dynamics, and collaboration with schools
💛 You Deserve Support That Fits Your Life
If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone.
And your child isn’t behind or broken — they’re still building. With the right foundation, they can grow into these skills.
Take the first step by completing our Family Discovery Form.
You'll be invited to a free consultation with one of our licensed occupational therapists who will listen, learn about your child, and share how Kinspire can support your family every day.