How to Cultivate Executive Function Skills During Summer Break: 5 Fun and Meaningful Activities
Executive function skills can be enhanced in places other than school. With the arrival of summer, take advantage of this time to build executive function skills through activities such as sports and family trips.
As a parent of a child with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), you are always looking for ways to strengthen their executive function skills, which include planning, organization, memory, and self-regulation.
School is a definite place where these skills come into play, but it's not the only place where they can be practiced and improved. Even during summer break, daily life offers some of the best opportunities to practice planning, organization, and inhibition skills.
Summer activities for building executive function skills:
Summer is a great time to plan a family trip, and it's also an excellent opportunity to cultivate executive function skills.
Involving your child in the planning and packing process can enhance their organization and self-regulation abilities.
First, discuss the travel destination and dates with your children. Let them participate in the process of choosing the travel location and discuss the pros and cons of each option. Once the destination is determined, you can begin planning the itinerary and activities.
Next, help your children create a packing list. Discuss together the clothing, personal items, and other necessities that may be needed during the trip. Encourage them to think about various weather conditions and activity scenarios to ensure they pack enough clothes and accessories.
When listing items, remind your children to consider the importance and priority of each item. They can learn to distinguish between essentials and optional items and use judgment and prioritization to make choices.
Then, assist your children in gathering and organizing their luggage. They can learn how to fold and arrange clothes, how to choose appropriate packing bags and suitcases, and how to ensure the weight and size of the luggage meet airline requirements.
During the packing process, encourage your children to pay attention to details, such as checking important items like personal passports, travel documents, and medical first-aid kits. They can learn to ensure all necessary items are included and be prepared before the trip.
2. Organize a sports tournament
The good weather in summer is perfect for tournaments like basketball, tennis, and soccer. Organizing a friendly sports tournament is an excellent way to practice various aspects of executive function skills.
To successfully hold a tournament, your child will need to carve out time each day to complete this task (while inhibiting the desire to engage in other hoped-for activities, like watching TV or scrolling on their phone).
3. Working memory comes into play when setting up different teams/events and preparing for the tournament (e.g., tournament location, inviting players, prize arrangements). And when unexpected changes occur (for example, a player can't make it, so who can substitute?), it's a good opportunity to practice cognitive flexibility and shifting.
4. Plan a Friday field trip
Summer provides many opportunities for local field trips, such as pools, nature reserves, museums, amusement parks, etc.
Instead of you planning the outing, why not let your child be in charge of planning a field trip? Invite your children to create a "proposal" that includes a field trip destination, reasons for the outing, distance, transportation plans, and the costs and supplies needed for the day.
In the process of narrowing down choices and coming up with a field trip destination, they will be using skills of inhibition, planning, organization, and prioritization.
At the same time, as they look at transportation options and ticket prices, they will also be strengthening working memory and cognitive flexibility (maybe the admission fee is more expensive than expected). As an added bonus, they will get real-world math practice, calculating the total cost of the outing.
5. Visit grandparents and plan the visit itinerary
Summer is a good time for family reunions, especially visiting grandparents. This is an excellent opportunity to cultivate executive function skills while also strengthening family relationships.
Plan the itinerary for visiting grandparents together with your child. This requires them to use skills in planning, organization, and working memory.
First, determine the dates and times of the visit. Consider the grandparents' schedule and travel time. Have your children research transportation options, such as taking the train, driving, or flying, and discuss the pros and cons of each option.
Next, assist your children in creating a visit itinerary. They can list the activities they hope to do during the visit, such as cooking together, playing games, watching movies, or taking walks in a nearby park. Ask them to consider their grandparents' preferences and physical conditions to ensure the plans are realistic.
At the same time, remind your children to pay attention to details, such as booking accommodations, preparing luggage, and arranging transportation. They can organize the necessary items and documents by creating lists and ensuring everything is properly arranged.
During the visit, encourage your children to show respect and care. They can take the initiative to help their grandparents with household chores, such as tidying up rooms, washing dishes, or helping with shopping. This is an opportunity to cultivate self-regulation and cooperation skills.
Additionally, your children can engage in conversations and interactions with their grandparents, learning about their life stories and experiences. This helps develop your children's cognitive flexibility and social skills.
Visiting grandparents is a meaningful and enjoyable summer activity, as well as a valuable opportunity to strengthen executive function skills. This family interaction helps build and strengthen close relationships while providing your children with the opportunity to learn and grow in a pleasant environment.
During the busy school year, life can feel like a constant rush. Summer is a good time to let your child slow down, disconnect, and focus on one thing.
Especially during online learning, your child may be tempted to open multiple devices while constantly checking their phone. This summer, practice inhibition skills by focusing on one thing and ignoring distractions from other things.
Help your child design a long-term project for the summer. As they work on the project, they can practice staying away from phones, computers, and other distractions. Remember to start with small goals and gradually expand the scope of focus!
Help your child brainstorm a long-term project for the summer. When they’re working on the project, they can practice staying away from their phone, the computer, and other distractions. Remember to start small with focus goals, and build from there!