Acknowledgments

Part I: What You Need to Know

1 Introduction

Why Another Book?

Who Are We?

The Plan for This Book

2 What Is Executive Functioning?

A Formal Definition of Executive Functioning

Understanding Executive Functions by Looking at Life without Them

A List of Executive Functions

How This Book Is Organized

Final Thoughts

3 Development of the Executive Functions

Why Is My Child Having Problems with Executive Skill Development?

I.Q. and Executive Functioning

Typical Development

How Do I Know If My Child’s Executive Skills Are Developing Normally?

4 The Child’s Experience of Executive Weaknesses

Daily Life

Emotions

5 Impact on the Family

Impact on Parents

Impact on Siblings

Impact on Couples

Special Situations

Staying Healthy

6 Assessment: Figuring Out What’s Needed

The Purpose of Assessment

Evaluating the Role of Expectations

The Evaluation Process

Who Does Testing and What Do They Test?

Where Should You Seek an Assessment?

How to Be an Educated Consumer

Once the Assessment Is Done

Now What?

A Note about Executive Functioning and School Plans

7 ADHD, Learning Disabilities, and Other Conditions Associated with Executive Functioning Challenges

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Learning Disabilities (L.D.)

Autism Spectrum Disorders (A.S.D.)

Other Conditions Often Associated with Executive Function Weaknesses

Wrap-Up

Part II: What You Can Do about It

8 How to Help: An Overview

The Two-Pronged Approach

Designing Interventions

Creativity at Work

9 Behavior Change in a Nutshell

Use Real Life to Teach

Take a Teaching versus a Punishing Approach

Collaborate with Your Child

Focus on the Desired Outcome

Raise the Stakes

Reward Even Small Steps in the Right Direction

Use “Tried and True” Behavior Modification Techniques

Trust Your Child’s Own Developmental Urges

When Should You Allow Your Child to Experience Natural Consequences for Behavior?

Change Does Not Occur in a Smooth or Steady Uphill Manner

10 If at First You Don’t Succeed, Try a Few More Times Then … Change Your Expectations!

Don’t Try to Keep Up with the Joneses

The Limbo Game of Setting Expectations

If You Need to Change Expectations

Your Child’s Expectations

Your Partner’s Expectations

Fading Support

11 Helping Children Control Impulses

Strategies to Help a Child Manage Verbal Impulsiveness (Talking Excessively, Interrupting Others, etc.)

Strategies to Help a Child Manage Physical Impulsiveness (Grabbing Things, Pushing and Shoving Others, Hitting, etc.)

Strategies to Help a Child Stop Irritating Behavior

Strategies to Help a Child Control Running Off in Stores or Other Settings

Strategies to Help a Child Manage Homework Problems

Case Study: Putting It All Together

Transitioning from Short-Term to Long-Term Goals

Educate Others and Advocate for Your Child

Final Thoughts

12 Helping Children Shift Gears

Strategies to Help Children Manage Transitions

Strategies to Help a Child Adapt to New Situations or Environments

Strategies to Help a Child Who Becomes Upset When Peers Break the Rules or Behave in Unexpected Ways

Strategies to Help Reduce a Child’s Frustration When Their First Attempt to Solve a Problem

Isn’t Successful

Case Study: Putting It All Together

Transitioning from Short-Term to Long-Term Goals

Educate Others and Advocate for Your Child

Final Thoughts

13 Helping Children Get Started on Homework and Other Tasks

Strategies to Help Your Child Get Started with Homework

Strategies to Help Your Child Complete Chores and Other Routine Activities

Strategies to Help a Child Who Puts Off Major Projects

Case Study: Putting It All Together

Transitioning from Short-Term to Long-Term Goals

Educate Others and Advocate for Your Child

Final Thoughts

14 Helping Children with Working Memory Challenges

Strategies to Help a Child Who Has Trouble Following Directions

Strategies to Help a Child with Written Expression and Other Complex, Multistep Tasks

Strategies to Help a Child Who Interrupts Others So They Won’t Forget What They Want to Say

Strategies to Help a Child Who Needs to Reread or Relearn Information

Strategies to Help a Child Who Has Trouble Taking Notes in Class

Case Study: Putting It All Together

Transitioning from Short-Term to Long-Term Goals

Educate Others and Advocate for Your Child

Final Thoughts

15 Helping Children to Plan and Organize

Strategies to Help a Child Organize and Track Multiple Tasks over Time

Strategies to Help a Child Who Underestimates the Effort Involved in a Project

Strategies to Help a Child Who Does Homework But Doesn’t Turn It In

Strategies to Help a Child Who Struggles When Prioritizing Bits of Information

Strategies to Help a Child Who Arrives at Events Unprepared

Strategies to Help a Child Organize Their Materials and Their Space (Locker, Desk, Bedroom)

Case Study: Putting It All Together

Transitioning from Short-Term to Long-Term Goals

Educate Others and Advocate for Your Child

Final Thoughts

16 Helping Children Monitor Their Behavior

Strategies to Help a Child Who Gets Upset with the Outcome in a Situation but Lacks a Realistic, Systematic Approach to Making Things Go Better

Strategies to Help a Child Who Doesn’t Notice When They Have Gone Off on a Tangent

Strategies to Help a Child Who Doesn’t Notice “Careless” Errors

Strategies to Help a Child Who Doesn’t Adjust Behavior Based on Feedback

Strategies to Help a Child Notice When Peers Lose Interest in the Topic of Conversation

Strategies to Help a Child Who Is Genuinely Surprised When They Get in Trouble for Misbehavior (“What Did I Do?”)

Case Study: Putting It All Together

Transitioning from Short-Term to Long-Term Goals

Educate Others and Advocate for Your Child

Final Thoughts

17 Special Topic: Helping Children with Emotional Regulation

Strategies to Help Children and Teens Build Foundation Skills for Self-Regulation

Strategies to Help Children and Teens Who Need a Little Extra Support to Manage Their Feelings

Strategies to Help Children and Teens Who Need a Lot More Support to Manage Their Feelings and to Recover Once They Lose Control

Case Study: Putting It All Together

Transitioning from Short-Term to Long-Term Goals

Educate Others and Advocate for Your Child

Final Thoughts

18 Concluding Thoughts

The Zen of Intervention Planning

The “No Victims” Approach

Building a Life

Who Can Help?

A Field in Progress

Appendix

Bibliography

Index