Supporting Executive Functioning in Children & Youth
Does your child or teenager struggle with planning, organization, focus, or emotional control?
These challenges are often linked to executive functioning skills — the “management system” of the brain that helps us set goals, make plans, start tasks, and see them through.
At Thrive Therapy, our Occupational Therapists work alongside families and educators to help children and youth strengthen these essential life skills.
Does This Sound Like Your Child?
This service is for children and youth who find everyday planning, organizing and follow-through harder than it should be. We support kids whose executive functioning skills — the brain’s “management system” that helps with planning, focus, time management, and emotional control — don’t come easily yet.
This includes children and teens who:
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Have difficulty starting or completing tasks like homework, chores, or routines
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Need extra reminders or support to stay on track through multi-step activities
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Struggle with organizing materials, managing time, or keeping things in order
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Become overwhelmed when routines change or when tasks feel complex
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Have trouble managing frustration, staying focused, or shifting between activities
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May have ADHD, learning differences, anxiety, autism, or a history of concussion — or simply need help with everyday executive skills
This support is for families who want practical tools and guided strategies that help children build confidence, independence, and success across school, home, and community.
What is Executive Functioning?
Executive functioning is our brain's management system that helps us use a set of cognitive skills that help us:
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Plan and organize tasks
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Manage time effectively
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Start and finish homework or chores
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Remember instructions
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Adapt to changes and problem-solve
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Regulate emotions and behaviour
When executive functioning skills are underdeveloped, children may appear forgetful, easily distracted, "lazy" or "unmotivated", overwhelmed, or resistant to routines.
How Occupational Therapists Help
Our Occupational Therapists use evidence-based, individualized strategies to support children and youth, including:
Assessment & Goal Setting
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We start by identifying your child’s strengths and challenges in daily life, then set meaningful, achievable goals together.
Developing Practical Strategies
We teach and practice tools like:
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Visual schedules and planners
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Task checklists and step-by-step guides
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“Chunking” tasks into smaller, manageable parts
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Time management aids like timers and apps
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Organizational systems for schoolwork and belongings
Building Self-Regulation & Emotional Control
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Through mindfulness, sensory strategies, and movement breaks, we help children and youth learn how to stay calm, focused, and flexible.
Enhancing Working Memory
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Fun, play-based activities, games, and everyday routines are used to strengthen memory and attention skills.
Collaboration with Families & Schools
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We work closely with caregivers and teachers to create consistent supports across home and school environments.
What Families Notice
Before Getting Support
Families often describe their child:
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Struggling to begin or finish tasks without frequent prompting
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Forgetting steps, materials, or instructions even when they want to do well
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Feeling anxious or frustrated when routines change or demands increase
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Becoming disorganized — for example, lost homework, messy binders or backpacks
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Having trouble staying focused or switching between activities smoothly
These challenges can affect participation in school, daily routines, friendships, and family life.
After Working Together
With occupational therapy support, families often notice:
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Children start tasks more independently and follow routines with less prompting
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Improved ability to plan, organize and break tasks into manageable steps
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Better use of tools like visual schedules, planners, checklists and timers
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Stronger focus, increased flexibility, and smoother transitions between activities
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Greater confidence and resilience when faced with schoolwork and everyday challenges
Parents and caregivers also feel more equipped with strategies they can use at home and in school to support their child’s growth and independence.
Our services are available in-clinic, at home, in schools, and through virtual sessions, ensuring accessibility for all families.