Executive Function Skills: Understanding Attention Regulation

"They can pay attention when they want to." It's one of the most common — and most misunderstood — things said about kids who struggle with attention. Attention regulation isn't a switch that's either on or off, and it isn't about willpower. It's an executive function skill that depends on interest, novelty, demand, and how regulated a child's nervous system is in that exact moment — which is why the same kid can hyperfocus for two hours on something engaging and completely fall apart three minutes into a worksheet.

In this session, Lily Baiser, MS, OTR/L and Jill Gitten Aloia, PhD, ABPP-CN break down what attention regulation actually is, why it looks so inconsistent from the outside, and how to work with your child's attention system instead of fighting it — so you can set them up to focus when it counts, not just when it's convenient.

What we'll cover:

Following the presentation, Lily and Jill will stay on together for a live parent Q&A — bring your child's specific attention struggles and the strategies you've tried that haven't worked.

This session is part of Kinspire's live workshop programming, designed to give parents real knowledge — not just tips — so you can understand what's happening in your child's body and respond with confidence