THINKING & LEARNING DIFFERENTLY
Executive Function ISTOCK
Expert tips for building and strengthening these everyday skills W O R D S G I N A M AY F I E L D
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HEN IT COMES TO CHILD DEVELOPMENT, there’s a laundry list of trendy buzzwords for parents to keep up with, but some of those terms hold real meaning and importance. Case in point: “Executive Functioning.” But what exactly does that mean and why does it matter? “Executive functioning is an umbrella term that describes the set of skills that are needed to execute—hence, ‘executive’—tasks,” says Leda Owens, a licensed professional counselor and the director of ADHD & Learning Services at The Housson Center, which provides psychological and educational services in Dallas. Owens helped develop the curriculum for the center’s Executive Function Counseling and Training program, which helps bolster children’s executive functioning skillset. DFWCHILD | may 2024
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