For many youth, this is the time of year when the initial excitement about school is wearing off. Our children have by now gotten to know teachers expectations, and gotten used to classmates. What’s left is work.

Some children have already settled in for a great year. But for others, the lost pencil case and agenda notes weigh heavy on our hearts… we worry it’s going to be a difficult year. How do we help our children stay focused, on track, and do the best they can…especially when we know school isn’t an easy place for them to be?

As adults we multi-task, follow multiple-step directions, and stay focused despite interruptions or distractions, even when we’re pushing ourselves through tasks we don’t enjoy. We know success depends on making plans, controlling our impulses, persisting, and staying true to our goals. Our children are born with the capacity to develop those skills, too. Like us, their executive function part of the brain is responsible for; organizing information, mental flexibility, and self-control. These skills are essential for success in both learning and friendships; when youth miss out on opportunities to practice and become proficient, they have difficulties managing routine tasks and inevitable frustrations. We as parents have an essential role in providing them with supports they need to build these skills and achieve success.

Many of the daily skills required to help build executive function can be found in Organization Skills Training (OST). Our youth can learn to optimize brain functioning, minimize distractions, and say no to themselves. Here are few tips that can help;

Take Time To Plan; Students often underestimate how much time it actually takes to complete tasks. Breaking it up into smaller chunks can help. A project, book report, or spelling test is more manageable, and less daunting when done a little bit at a time. Using charts, calendars, and timers to track “task time” can make a difference.

Organization; Many parents not so fondly recall the “mad dash home” to pick up a forgotten item (think sneakers, lunch, and homework). Developing routines and having special places to put things (backpack, folders for assignments, etc.) can go a long way to minimizing emergencies. Over time, positive habits develop and become part of life.

Praise & Rewards; Despite ongoing controversy, research supports use of small regular rewards combined with praise to encourage our children with difficult tasks. Many of us reward ourselves with pleasurable activity after less pleasing tasks. Small treats and praise may not make your child love work, but it might make starting task a little easier! In the end, it turns out that the magic of staying focused is about helping our young people realize they don’t have to be perfect… they just need to stay focused enough a little bit each week to make this year count.

DM’s Organizational Skills Training can help, contact DM for more info!

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DM FAMILY SERVICES
“Effective Executive Function is like having an air traffic control system at a busy airport to manage arrivals and departures of many planes on multiple runways. DM’s Organizational Skills Training can help”

OFFICES IN MONTREAL, WEST ISLAND, & LAVAL
514.483.9339 / www.dmfamilyschool.com