I received an email from a reader named Kim. She suggested I include some information and resources on executive function and ADHD. She too has done a lot of reading and research to learn whatever she can to better understand her son.  Kim has also found that a big challenge as a parent of a child with ADHD is helping others, including family and educators, to understand what this means and how ADHD may impact her child. It is valuable as a parent to have a deep understanding to share with others as ADHD is often thought of as ‘hyperactivity, impulsivity and inattentiveness’, which isn’t the whole story.  Inattention is complex and can be caused by a number of factors, in particular an impairment in executive function. 

In short executive function includes the following skills: impulse control, emotional control, flexible thinking, working memory, self monitoring, planning and prioritizing, task initiation and organization. Executive Function (understood.org) . Research connecting ADHD and executive function helps us better understand why children and adults have difficulty paying attention. 

As an educator this is a key understanding as it enables us to identify the area of executive function that seems to be the most  challenging for the child, which will help us scaffold and develop a plan to help the child. 

One example Kim shared was her son getting ready to go home at the end of the day. She recalls seeing her son through the window with his backpack on, his coat on over his backpack and a large smile on his face. Kim expressed that in Kindergarten he could not even get his own backpack, jacket or shoes changed without support, so when she saw him ready to go before the bell she was proud of what he had accomplished and by the smile on his face she could tell he was too. A minute later a well intentioned adult tried to get him to reverse the order of his backpack and jacket, which led to a very challenging end to her son’s day, causing him to escalate, which upset the education assistant, Kim and her son. This is a situation that could have been avoided and/or led to a discussion that could better help the child in the future. 

As a parent, meeting with the school team and sharing the growth your child has already demonstrated, the challenges and strengths of your child and then working with the school to set realistic and achievable goals is a great place to start. As a school, getting to know the student and asking parents what they have learned about their child, what they see as areas of growth and goals for the term are also valuable. This communication is key and will go a long way in creating a comfortable, engaging environment for the child to learn. Keeping in mind that educators and parents are working together to help the child develop the skills needed to succeed, learn and grow is key. 

Parents are the best advocates for their children. Read, research and share your understanding with the educators that work with your child. The best thing about educators is their love of learning and most would be open to learning from you. 

Kim recommended this article, Executive Function & ADHD (additudemag.com) and a great site for exercises to strengthen executive function in children and adolescence Executive Function Skills and Strategies . 

Thank you for sharing Kim! It is my hope that we will continue I to learn from each other. If anyone has stories, resources or ideas to share please comment below or send me an email.