Table of Contents
Introduction 7
Chapter 1 Conscious Parenting 9
The Benefits of Conscious Parenting 11
Giving Your Child Full Attention 14
Understanding Behavior 15
Chapter 2 What is executive functioning? 19
Defining Executive Functioning 20
"Smooth Sailors" versus "Boat Rockers" 23
Typical Development 25
Assessment of Executive Functioning Difficulties 27
Executive Functioning: "The Big Umbrella" 30
Important Points to Consider 36
Chapter 3 The "Big Ten" Executive Functions 39
Task Initiation 40
Response Inhibition 41
Focus 42
Time Management 43
Working Memory 44
Flexibility 45
Self-Regulation 47
Emotional Self-Control 49
Task Completion 50
Organization 51
Prioritizing Interventions 53
Important Points to Consider 53
Chapter 4 Task Initiation: Taming Your Child's Procrastination Monster 55
What Is Task Initiation? 56
The Young Child (Ages 1-4) 56
The Elementary-Age Child (Ages 5-12) 61
The Adolescent (Ages 13-18+) 64
Social Media and Procrastination 69
Important Points to Consider 71
Chapter 5 Response Inhibition: Teaching Your Child to Control Impulses 73
The Importance of Controlling Impulses 74
Stanford Marshmallow Study 76
Strategies for Kids Who Act First and Think Later 77
Strategies for Kids Who Make Careless Errors 80
Important Points to Consider 83
Chapter 6 Focus: Everyday Mindfulness 85
What Do Focus Problems Look Like? 86
Sustained Focus 86
Divided Focus 89
TV or Not TV? There Is No Question! 91
Music and Focus 91
Mindfulness 92
Important Points to Consider 93
Chapter 7 Time Management: Strengthening Your Child's Internal Clock 95
Development of Time Management Skills 96
Getting Out the Door on Time 96
Getting Homework Done Efficiently 100
Teaching Activity Scheduling 103
Important Points to Consider 105
Chapter 8 Working Memory: Hold That Thought 107
The Importance of Working Memory 108
The "RAM" in Your Brain 109
Remembering and Following Directions 110
Remembering Appointments and Assignments 112
Can You Strengthen Working Memory? 113
Important Points to Consider 118
Chapter 9 Flexibility: Rolling with Changes 121
What Does Flexibility Entail? 122
Learning How to Reset 124
Changing Plans Midstream 126
Repairing 128
Important Points to Consider 129
Chapter 10 Self-Regulation: Thinking About Thinking 131
What Is Self-Regulation? 132
Self-Regulation in Reading 133
Self-Regulation in Writing 136
Self-Regulation in Math 139
Developing Self-Regulation 143
Important Points to Consider 145
Chapter 11 Emotional Self-Control: Learning Coping Skills 147
Why Emotional Self-Control Is Important 148
The Tale of Phineas Gage 148
Labeling Feelings 149
Providing Behavioral Choices 150
Tracking Emotions to Build Awareness 152
Dealing with Meltdowns 153
Important Points to Consider 156
Chapter 12 Task Completion: Reaching the Finish Line 159
What Is Task Completion? 160
Short-Term Tasks 160
Reading Assignments 167
Long-Term Projects 169
Important Points to Consider 170
Chapter 13 Organization: Keeping Track of It All 173
Organization Is in the Eye of the Beholder 174
Finding the Floor in Your Child's Bedroom 174
The Backpack Vortex 176
Binder Systems 177
Homework Systems 178
Planners 180
Helping Lost-and-Found "Frequent Flyers" Keep Track of Belongings 182
Important Points to Consider 183
Chapter 14 Setting Up a Supportive Home Environment 185
Making the Home Environment Positive for Teaching Executive Functioning 186
Routines Are Your Friends! 187
Stop the Homework Battles 189
Getting Your Child to Do Chores 191
Important Points to Consider 193
Chapter 15 Parenting Children with Executive Functioning Challenges 195
Your Changing Role 196
Parent As Orchestrator 196
Parent As Monitor 197
Parent As Facilitator/Supporter 199
Manager or Micromanager? 200
Helicopter Parenting 201
Lending Your Child Your Frontal Lobe 204
How to Pull Back Support without the Crash and Burn 204
After High School: College and Beyond 206
Important Points to Consider 207
Chapter 16 Building Resilience 209
Smoothing Out the Ocean versus Riding the Waves 210
Success Factors 210
The 1:5 Rule 214
Appendix A Developmental Tasks Requiring Executive Skills 217
Appendix B Checklists for Supporting the "Big Ten" Executive Functions 223
Index 235
