06 MAY 2026
Dr Tony Lloyd, Psychologist & Neurodiversity Specialist at Neurodiversity Training UK, shares expert tips and strategies to help support your child's executive functioning. Discover how to build on your child’s unique strengths, boost confidence, and navigate challenges.
What are executive functions
The executive functions are sometimes referred to as the brain's management system. They are a set of skills that enable us to plan, organise, problem-solve, store information, follow multiple-step instructions, and stay focused and on task. These skills help us prioritise tasks, filter out distractions, and control impulses, attention, and emotions. We use these skills in every area of our lives. Typically, executive functions develop in early childhood and continue to develop throughout adolescence, reaching full development by the mid to late 20s. For children and young people who are neurodivergent, there can be a delay in the development of these skills, and they can often experience challenges with executive functions throughout their lives.
How can we support the development of executive functions?
Structuring your child’s day so they have the same routine and order of tasks can support effective time management, planning, organisation, and working memory. Involve your child in developing the routine; this will mean they are more invested in the process and more likely to stick with it. Support the routine visually as a schedule or checklist in their bedroom or in a place where they can be easily seen.
Routine and predictability
Build in a predictable routine each evening to prepare for the next day; being prepared the evening before will help your child feel less stressed in the morning. Include time for homework, organising your child's school uniform, and packing their school bag as part of the routine. Use a daily checklist for equipment, books, stationery, kit, homework, and other items to be packed for each day.
Working memory
Externalise working memory by putting key information in physical form and writing or recording information as soon as it happens. This can be done using a list, bullet points, a notebook, a note-taking app on a phone, voice notes, or video on a phone or iPad, or by exploring available apps.
Mnemonics
Use mnemonics (words, short poems/songs, or sentences intended to help you remember things) or acronyms to help remember information. Involving your child in making these easy-to-remember and fun can make a routine feel like a simple process.
Visual prompts
Externalise organisation by creating visual systems that work for your child. For example, a series of picture-prompts, photographs, daily planners, calendars, 'to-do' lists, to record tasks that need to be completed. Set timers and reminders for tasks that need to be completed using phones, PC’s, Alexa, or available apps.
Use colour-coded folders and labels to keep school work and notes in order. Use highlighters to give key information in notes visual prominence.
Easy to digest, step by step guides
Breaking larger tasks into smaller, manageable steps can make things feel less overwhelming. For example, rather than asking them to tidy their room, ask them to:
- Make their bed
- Put their dirty laundry in the laundry basket
- Put books on the shelves
Support working memory by writing the instructions in a bullet-point list that can be checked off as it is completed. Or you may have a mnemonic or acronym that may fit the task. For example, BBB – Bed, Basket, Books.
Use timers
Externalise time by making time physical/tangible by using timers, watches, analogue clocks, phones, computers, setting reminders or even using playlists. For example, 'We will tidy up for three songs’, which will give you about 10 minutes. Sing and dance as you go, and it will feel like less.
Support emotional regulation
Support emotional regulation by helping your child to recognise and identify emotions as they arise. Your child may only be aware of their extreme emotions and does not recognise, or cannot verbalise, all of the 'in between' type emotions. Helping your child expand their emotional vocabulary can help. Model responses, talk about your own emotions and responses, and use books, TV programs and movies to explore emotions and emotional responses with your child.
Encourage self-regulation by using techniques such as deep breathing, grounding, and meditation.
Find strategies that work for you and your child
Take time to explore which strategies work for you and your child. We are all unique, with different strengths and challenges; strategies that suit one family may not work for another. The important thing is to find strategies and tools that work for your family.
Executive functioning skills webinar
Below, Dr Tony Lloyd, Psychologist and Neurodiversity Specialist at Neurodiversity Training UK, shares strategies to support your child's executive functioning.
SENsatonal
Have you seen our podcast? Watch our episode on ADHD and executive functioning with ADHD expert Lisa Rudge, who joins us to break down what executive functioning really is and why it matters.