Imagine your brain is the CEO of a very chaotic company called “Life.” Executive function is the group of brain skills that keep that CEO from getting fired. We’re talking about the stuff that helps you plan your day, remember where you left your keys (or your child), resist the urge to scream when the milk spills again, and actually follow through on things. In other words—executive function is the behind-the-scenes magic that keeps your life (somewhat) together.
Except… when it doesn’t.
Let’s break it down.
So What Is Executive Function? (Plain English Edition)
Executive function is your brain’s control center. It helps you:
Plan ahead (“We have soccer at 4, so snacks need to happen at 3:30 or someone will cry.”)
Stay organized (Find the permission slip before it’s due, not after.)
Remember stuff (Where you put your water bottle. Again.)
Control impulses (“Don’t yell at the tiny human who just used your lipstick on the mirror.”)
Start and finish tasks (Laundry counts. So do taxes.)
It’s like a combo of a personal assistant, traffic cop, and gentle-but-firm inner parent. Spoiler: kids don’t naturally have it all together. Neither do most adults. And that’s totally normal—but it’s also why support matters.
Why It Matters (for Kids and Grown-Ups)
Executive function isn’t just a school skill or a kid thing. Adults need it to pay bills, make appointments, get to work on time, and do laundry before the socks become endangered species.
For kids, executive function is what helps them:
- Follow multi-step directions (“Put your shoes on, grab your backpack, and please stop wrestling your sibling.”)
- Keep track of assignments and due dates
- Switch gears without meltdown mode
- Remember routines (brushing teeth before leaving the house = key)
For parents, executive function helps us model those same skills, juggle 46 tabs in our brains, and survive mornings without becoming unhinged.
Signs There May Be Struggles (AKA: You Are Not Alone
Here’s how executive function challenges might show up:
Preschool:
- Can’t transition from one activity to the next without a meltdown
- Forgets simple multi-step directions (and socks. Always socks.)
Elementary:
- Struggles to keep track of school supplies or assignments
- Melts down when routines change or plans shift
Tweens/Teens:
- Constantly “forgets” homework, chores, or upcoming deadlines
- Difficulty managing time or prioritizing tasks (wants to reorganize their closet at midnight before a science project is due)
Adults:
- Misses appointments, double-books calendars, loses everything not glued down
- Starts laundry but forgets it for two days, rewashes, and forgets again
- Feels overwhelmed by even basic routines (hello, executive overload!)
No shame. No blame. Just facts and growth.
One Easy Way to Start: Visual Schedules & Checklists
Before you start googling “executive function curriculum,” let us offer one simple tool that works for literally every age: a visual checklist. In addition to some of the ideas below, I used to post a visual checklist at the door for the kids to review before they left. Trial and error – pick one or two to try and see which ones work best for your family!
Think:
- Morning routine posted on the fridge for your kindergartener (with pictures!)
- A whiteboard weekly planner for your middle schooler (bonus points if it’s color-coded)
- A Post-It note in the bathroom for yourself that says: “You already brewed the coffee. Now drink it.”
- Text your teen. Share family notes
These tools make the invisible visible. They take the mental load off, and they create consistency for brains that need scaffolding. Start small and grow as you go.
Coming Soon…
We’ve got more posts coming to help you build these skills in bite-sized, real-life ways.
Think:
- How to help your kid remember stuff without nagging
- How to organize a neurodiverse family without losing it
- What to do when your teen (or you) is drowning in overwhelm
But first…
Tell Us:
What’s one area in your family’s daily life that feels a little (or a lot) chaotic right now? Drop it in the comments, message us on Instagram, or just shout it into the void—we’re here for it. And we’re building resources around your real-life chaos. Let’s make executive function a little more functional!
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