A Framework for Understanding Executive Function
For children struggling with self – regulation the term and concepts of executive function can give them and their parents a new perspective on problems. When Jon’s parents learned about working memory they understood why Jon couldn’t follow instructions, which lead them to adapt strategies to help him to improve his performance.
There is no standard definition of executive function but the literature produces a number of definitions. The one that stood out for me was actions we perform ourselves and direct at ourselves so as to accomplish self control, goal directed behavior and the maximization of future outcomes (Barkley, 1997).
Scientists and researchers studying executive function have used these concepts and theories as the basis for developing particle framework for explaining executive functions.
Yeager, Marcie, and Marcie Yeager. Executive Function and Child Development. New York: W.W. Norton, 2013. Print.
For children struggling with self – regulation the term and concepts of executive function can give them and their parents a new perspective on problems. When Jon’s parents learned about working memory they understood why Jon couldn’t follow instructions, which lead them to adapt strategies to help him to improve his performance.
- Therapist says that working memory is one of the brains jobs and that our working memory helps us to keep ideas in our minds so we can take the right actions at the right time. For example playing a game of Ready Set Go for it can help.
- Ready – I’ll tell you what to do
- Set – Say back to me what you are supposed to do
- Go for it – Go ahead and do it
There is no standard definition of executive function but the literature produces a number of definitions. The one that stood out for me was actions we perform ourselves and direct at ourselves so as to accomplish self control, goal directed behavior and the maximization of future outcomes (Barkley, 1997).
Scientists and researchers studying executive function have used these concepts and theories as the basis for developing particle framework for explaining executive functions.
- Working memory – remembering
- Response inhibition – stop yourself from doing the wrong thing so you can start on something else
- Shifting focus – making yourself stop thinking about one thing
- Goal orientations – making a good plan for whet you are going to do
Yeager, Marcie, and Marcie Yeager. Executive Function and Child Development. New York: W.W. Norton, 2013. Print.