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CHILD/ADOLESCENT GROWTH, DEVELOPMENT & LEARNING* 2 HOURS * LEVEL 2

Executive Function

Executive Function and Self-Regulation

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Executive Function
​Executive function is defined as the skills and abilities needed to perform certain tasks that involve planning, sequencing, and management among other things. The area of the brain called the frontal lobe does the bulk of the work for executive function. The Harvard Center for the Developing Child describes this as a traffic control center that controls many runways and many aircraft. This is because executive function is involved in setting goals, arranging tasks, avoiding distractions, and controlling impulses. 
​Example: Homework
​Homework requires not only remembering the information that was taught previously, but recalling what to do, how to do it, when to do it and why it needs to be done. It also involves the skill of being able to access previously acquired knowledge and planning or organizing it in a useful way. 
Self-Regulation
​Self-regulation is the ability to regulate one's emotions, behaviors, and thoughts in reaction to certain situations. It is a skill that is perfected over time for most people. Children have limited time to perfect the skill so they have more challenges with this task. Ideally by the teenage years the typical human brain can control self-regulation and impulses. Executive function is linked with self-regulation because you need executive function skill practice in order to self-regulate. This practice comes with time and effort and is a result of learning about oneself and the outside world. 
Example: Homework again! It requires self-regulation skills to set aside time and filter out distractions in order to get the homework done in a reasonable amount of time. Most children (and adults, for that matter) would much rather do any number of fun things instead of sit down and complete school work so self-regulation is a requirement.