BrainFit 

They have difficulty waiting their turn, controlling their emotions, or resisting the urge to interrupt others.

They have difficulty assessing their own performance, recognizing when they make mistakes, and managing their emotions.

They have difficulty sustaining attention. They struggle to shift attention from one task to the next and regulating alertness throughout the day.

They struggle to remember or follow multi-step directions, often requiring repetition or reminders.

They have a tendency to be inflexible, stubborn, and reluctant to adapt to the thoughts and ideas of others. Rigidity is also known as cognitive inflexibility. These children struggle to compromise, they want it their way.

They struggle to keep track of their belongings, manage their schoolwork, or maintain a clean and orderly space.

They struggle to recognize their thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and tendencies. Unable to perceive their personal strengths and weaknesses, identify emotions, or predict the consequences of actions.

They have trouble estimating how long tasks will take, prioritizing tasks, or completing assignments on time. This leads to overwhelm and procrastination.

This is one of the biggest misconceptions of them all!

This question is commonly asked by teachers, which make sense as to why this is not being taught in schools - it should be!

Executive function skills begin developing in early childhood, around age 1 well before the prefrontal cortex fully matures at age 25.

Executive functioning skills, include managing time, controlling impulses and planning ahead.

Children are not born with these skills, they must be nurtured.

Children typically do not figure out these complex skills on their own. They thrive under parental leadership, guidance, and involvement.

While the prefrontal cortex continues to develop into adulthood, children can still learn and practice these skills with parental guidance.

You should not wait until your child is 25 before teaching them social skills, planning, organizing, emotional regulation and more.

It will cripple their lives to not have these skills nurtured in childhood and they will experience negative outcomes like;

Academic Struggles: Children will face difficulties in school, such as poor organization, time management, and task completion, leading to lower academic performance.

Impaired Social Skills: Lack of executive function skills will hinder a child's ability to regulate emotions, understand social cues, and maintain healthy relationships with peers and adults.

Behavioral Challenges: Children will exhibit impulsive behavior, difficulty following rules, and trouble controlling their impulses, leading to disciplinary issues and conflicts.

Reduced Independence: Without strong executive function skills, children will struggle to make decisions, solve problems independently, and take responsibility for their actions, impeding their transition to adulthood.

Increased Stress and Anxiety: Poor executive function skills can contribute to heightened stress and anxiety in children, due to feeling overwhelmed by tasks, deadlines, and social interactions.

Risk of Substance Abuse: Adolescents with weak executive function skills are more susceptible to engaging in risky behaviors, including substance abuse, due to impaired decision-making and impulse control.

Long-Term Implications: Difficulties in executive function skills during childhood can have dire long-term consequences, affecting educational attainment, employment opportunities, and overall quality of life in adulthood.

My goal is not to change who your child is, but to provide you with the tools to empower them with skills that enhance their ability to navigate daily challenges and harness their unique strengths.

You will be equipped with strategies that work with their neurodiversity, not against it, supporting their personal and academic growth on their terms.

You will be better equipped to help your child to feel more competent and confident in their abilities, reducing feelings of being 'othered' or marginalized.

This program is not ABA-based.

No, this is not a one-size-fits-all approach.

BrainFit is designed to be flexible and accommodating to each child’s unique needs.

The modules are self-paced, allowing you to progress at a comfortable speed.

Each activity takes no more than 20 minutes a day initially, with the time commitment decreasing as skills improve.

Moreover, the activities are thoughtfully grouped into age brackets to ensure they are developmentally appropriate.

I also offer a variety of activities within each bracket, giving you the freedom to choose the ones that best suit your child's interests and current needs.

This tailored approach ensures that the program effectively supports personal and academic growth by leveraging each child’s unique strengths and preferences.

Our world is not the same world you or I grew up in, we didn't know a lot about executive functioning and how it impacts child development 40 years ago - but we do now!

Executive functioning skills, which include managing time, controlling impulses, and planning ahead, are not innate.

They must be actively taught and nurtured. Without this support, it can leave gaps in a child’s ability to handle everyday challenges.

Children typically do not 'figure out' these complex skills on their own. They thrive under parental leadership, guidance, and involvement.

By providing both love and practical tools, you can ensure your child is fully equipped to succeed in various aspects of life, enhancing their ability to learn, socialize, and eventually lead independent lives.

Executive functioning challenges are not a specific mental health condition but can be symptomatic of both environmental factors and neurodevelopmental disorders.

Children are not born with fully developed executive functions, these skills evolve and mature over time with proper nurturing.

Deficiencies in these skills can significantly affect all areas of life, often making daily tasks and social interactions more challenging.

Studies show that these cognitive skills are malleable, meaning they can improve with the right interventions and support.

It's not about diagnosing a child with a permanent condition, but recognizing these challenges and providing targeted assistance.

Doing this empowers children to develop their skills and enhance their quality of life, turning potential obstacles into opportunities for growth and learning.

Self-awareness refers to the ability to recognize one's thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and tendencies.

It involves understanding personal strengths and weaknesses, identifying emotions, and predicting the consequences of actions.

Attention is the cognitive process that allows us to concentrate on specific stimuli or tasks while ignoring others, a process commonly referred to as selective attention.

Focus, while often used interchangeably with attention, can be considered as sustaining attention over time or maintaining attention on a task despite distractions.

Task initiation is the ability to begin a task or activity independently and without unnecessary procrastination.

This is not to be confused with motivation - a child can be motivated and still struggle with task initiation.

In this sense, task initiation is the opposite of procrastination.

Response inhibition refers to the ability to suppress impulsive behaviors, delay responses, and to stop oneself from performing an undesired action.

It's essentially the cognitive equivalent of "think before you act."

The development of response inhibition is vital as it impacts a child's behavioral control, decision-making, and emotional regulation.

Working memory refers to the ability to hold and manipulate information over short periods.

It's like mental "juggling," where the child retains necessary details while solving a problem or performing a task.

Working memory is crucial in various cognitive tasks, including reading, problem-solving, and math.

It also plays a role in attention control, helping children concentrate despite distractions.

Cognitive flexibility refers to the brain's ability to transition thoughts between multiple concepts or perspectives.

This skill allows children to adapt their thinking or strategy in response to changes or new information.

Adaptability, closely linked to cognitive flexibility, involves adjusting to new conditions or changes in the environment effectively.

Effective time management helps children to accomplish tasks in a timely manner.

It reduces stress related to rushing or cramming and is vital for long-term projects and assignments.

Organization refers to the ability to develop and maintain systems to keep track of information or materials.

This skill is crucial in areas such as following instructions, writing an essay, managing belongings, or even keeping track of homework assignments.

Good organization skills aid in efficiently managing tasks and reducing unnecessary stress related to misplaced items or forgotten responsibilities.

Well-developed planning skills can lead to better academic performance and more efficient problem-solving abilities.

They also foster self-confidence as the child learns to break down complex tasks into manageable steps and achieve set goals.

Self-discipline, or inhibitory control, is an executive function that refers to our capacity to control our thoughts, actions, and emotions, even in the face of temptation or distraction.

This skill is foundational to a variety of life aspects, from academic performance to social relationships and emotional health.

Self-regulation is often considered a hallmark of executive functioning.

Well-developed self-regulation skills can lead to better social relationships, improved academic performance, and positive mental health outcomes.

They enable children to cope with frustration, delay gratification, and follow rules and instructions.

Being able to complete tasks efficiently is linked to improved academic performance, better time management skills, and increased self-confidence.

It also lays the groundwork for developing resilience, as children learn to overcome challenges and manage setbacks.

✔️  Yes, this program is suitable for children with ADHD, ASD, FASD, ODD, PANDAS, and other neurodiverse profiles. It addresses the core executive functioning skills that are essential for all children, regardless of their neurotype.

The strategies and techniques taught in the course can be adapted and tailored to meet the specific needs of children with different neurodevelopmental conditions, providing them with valuable support in strengthening their executive functions.

✔️ Absolutely! Whether you're a beginner or have some familiarity with executive functioning, I will guide you through the fundamentals and gradually build your understanding.

You'll gain valuable insights, practical strategies, and actionable tips to support the development of executive functioning skills in children.

BrainFit is designed to be accessible and beneficial for parents, educators, and anyone interested in enhancing executive functioning skills in children.

✔️ Yes, BrainFit incorporates practical activities to enhance your learning experience. It goes beyond theoretical knowledge by providing hands-on exercises, interactive tasks, and real-life examples that allow you to apply the concepts and strategies directly. 

I've created a wide array of activities tailored for different age groups within each of the 12 modules that specifically strengthen each executive function.

These include both indoor and outdoor activities, all designed to be fun and engaging, ensuring that children of all ages find joy and value in participating. 

I understand that every child is unique, so the activities are adaptable to various developmental stages and interests. 

So, if you enjoy quality time with your child and want to foster their growth in a playful yet purposeful way, the activities are designed to provide so that each moment spent is not only enjoyable but also contributes to their executive skill development.

✔️ This text-based program is delivered online through the Thinkific platform, which provides a user-friendly and interactive learning experience on any device. Once you enroll, you will receive access to a private online portal via email where you can access the materials.

BrainFit can be accessed on any device with internet connectivity, but for the best experience,

I recommend using a tablet, laptop, PC, or Mac. This ensures optimal compatibility and allows you to fully engage with the course content.

The course consists of 12 modules, and each module can be completed within a time frame of 20 minutes.

The total duration of the course will depend on your individual pace and the amount of time you dedicate to each module.

Remember, you have lifetime access to the course, so you can take your time and revisit the modules whenever you need to.

✔️ Absolutely! I am committed to providing you with support throughout your learning journey.

You will have access to my dedicated support team via email, who will be available to answer any questions or concerns you may have regarding the course content or activities.

Additionally, you'll be invited to join my private Facebook group, where you can connect with other course participants, share insights, and receive support.

I believe in creating a supportive community that fosters learning and growth.

BrainFit empowers you to play an active role in your child's executive functioning skill development. You will work through the modules, learning about each executive function, and then have the opportunity to put everything you've learned into practice through engaging activities.

These activities are specifically designed for you to do with your child, aiming to strengthen their executive functions.

Throughout the program, you will gain valuable insights, strategies, and tools to support your child's development in these areas, all while having a lot of fun.

The activities provided are interactive, age-appropriate, and adaptable. I have included multiple activities per module and age group, giving you the flexibility to choose the ones that best suit your child.

By actively participating in these activities together, you can create a fun and supportive learning environment for your child, while also strengthening your parent-child bond.

And on top of that, you will gain a deep understanding of your own executive functioning skills.

No, BrainFit is not ABA (applied behavior analysis) based. It is grounded in the latest peer-reviewed scientific research in this field and is designed to provide an evidence-based approach to developing executive functioning skills in children. The references to these studies are given at the end of each module. This comprises my entire library of research for further study and exploration.