How Can Parents Support Their Students’ Executive Function Skills Over Summer Break?

Did you know summer activities can bring joy and fulfillment while also sharpen your Executive Function Skills? We will explore four summer activities that provide us with an opportunity to “flex” our Executive Function muscles: cooking a meal, making a summer reading plan, planning a room makeover, and organizing an outing with family or friends. Each activity requires careful planning and organization to ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience. Whether you're looking to tantalize your taste buds, organize your living space, or create lasting memories with loved ones, this post will provide you with practical tips to make the most of your summer break.

Cook a Meal

Cooking a meal is a fun summer activity that requires a variety of Executive Function Skills. The first step is to select a recipe! Once you have selected a dish that will tantalize your taste buds, it's time to make a list of the ingredients that you will need. We recommend creating two lists: one for the ingredients you already have and another for the ones you still need. This helps ensure that no crucial ingredients are overlooked so no extra trips to the store are required. Many students will need to ask an adult for a ride to the store. When you are planning your meal, don’t forget to consider how you will get to and from the grocery store!

Before you begin to cook, don’t forget to organize your ingredients. To do this, consider the steps in your recipes, and what is required to accomplish them. You may need to chop veggies, measure ingredients, or preheat the oven before you move on to other steps.

Make a Summer Reading Plan

Creating a summer reading plan is an engaging way to exercise your Executive Function Skills and make the most of the sunny season.You'll want to start by compiling a list of the books you intend to read. Then, start to explore the various methods through which you can access them. Whether it's visiting the local library, borrowing from friends, or diving into digital platforms like the Libby App, be sure to note down the titles you want to read and how you will get a copy of the book.

Once your literary lineup is set, it's time to calculate your reading goal! To determine this, tally up the total number of pages across all the books and divide it by the number of days left until school starts. This resulting number will serve as your daily reading goal. One way to stay on track is to use a calendar. By marking the pages you should be on each day, you can easily keep tabs on your progress and ensure you're making steady headway through your summer reading list. Websites like GoodReads allow readers to track and share their progress. This site can be a great accountability tool for older students!

As you progress through your reading goal, practice Metacognition by reflecting on your progress. Some questions that support Metacognition include: How do you calculate how long it takes you to read? Do some texts take longer than others? Why do you think that is? A tool like Budgeted vs. Actual Time can also come in handy as students reflect on their progress. Remember, organizing your reading materials and setting a clear plan will help you develop Executive Function Skills while you enjoy your summer reading adventure.

A Bedroom Makeover

A bedroom makeover is another summer activity that requires us to practice various Executive Function Skills. When we say bedroom makeover, we aren’t suggesting that you redecorate! Rather, a bedroom makeover is an opportunity to make a plan to organize your belongings. You could also tackle a bathroom, closest, or study space.

A bedroom makeover supports numerous Executive Function Skills. Planning and Organization come into play, and Cognitive Flexibility and Metacognition can also be practiced. Some questions that support Cognitive Flexibility and Metacognition include: Do I wear this? Do I use this? How do you get to a place where I am ready to organize?

You’ll want to start by researching ideas for organizing and storing belongings. Once you’ve gathered some ideas, it is time to create a plan for how you will organize and store your belongings. As you work on creating a plan, consider the space that you have available, your preferences, and the functionality you seek to achieve. If you prefer to wear jeans on most days of the week, you would want to prioritize the location and the space so you have easy access to them. To create a functional closet, you could store your jeans in a place that was easy to access, even if that meant moving something else to the back of your closet.

It's also important to identify the supplies you'll require to bring your plan to life. Make a detailed list of the necessary materials and create a plan for how you will acquire them. Now, here's a pro tip: don't forget to document your progress with before and after pictures. Not only will these snapshots serve as a source of motivation, but they will also provide a visual reminder of the transformation you've accomplished!

Plan an Outing with Family or Friends

Planning an outing with family or friends is a summer activity that calls upon a diverse set of Executive Function Skills. The first step in planning a summer activity is to establish a budget. By setting a budget, you ensure that the outing remains within your financial means while allowing for a memorable experience. Next, research various options for your outing. Consider factors such as cost and travel time to narrow down the choices. It can be helpful to organize this information in a table.

Once you've gathered the necessary information, it's time to select an activity. After the activity is decided, create a timeline for the day. Determine when you should depart and return, taking into account any time constraints or commitments. This timeline will serve as a guiding framework to keep the outing organized and ensure a smooth experience for everyone involved. Remember, the key to a successful outing lies in the careful planning and thoughtful consideration of all the elements involved. During the summer outing, you have a set amount of time that you need to fit different pieces into. For example, driving there may take less time than driving home because of traffic. Planning for these differences is a fantastic way to build Planning, Prioritization, and Time Management skills.

At the end of your adventure, reflect on how it went. When we ask ourselves what went well and what could go better next time, we are building our Metacognitive skills. By employing your Executive Function Skills, particularly metacognition and planning, prioritization, and time management, you can plan an enjoyable day filled with summer memories.

Conclusion

As the summer days unfold, we hope this blog post has inspired you to practice Executive Function Skills in a variety of summer activities. Whether you're whipping up a meal, embarking on a room makeover, creating a summer reading plan, or organizing an unforgettable outing, your planning and organization skills will improve with practice. By carefully selecting recipes, creating lists, organizing ingredients, researching, and budgeting, you can improve Executive Function skills like Organization and Planning, Prioritization, and Time Management. Here's to a summer filled with joy, fulfillment, and Executive Function Skills! Executive Functions aren’t one time skills - they are lifetime skills.