Set short, attainable goals

Students who struggle with executive function often have difficulty initiating tasks, whether it’s doing homework, tackling chores, or getting ready for school in the morning. You can help your child get started by encouraging him to break down the larger task into short, attainable goals. A big research project can be overwhelming. Help your child “chunk” the assignment into manageable pieces — it doesn’t all need to be done at once! Cleaning a messy room can be daunting. Help your child focus on just one task at a time — start by cleaning off the bed! By setting smaller, more manageable goals, seemingly undoable tasks begin to feel much less intimidating. And don’t forget that success breeds success, so once that first step is taken it’s bound to be smoother sailing for the entire job!