Why Executive Function is a hot topic right now?

Hey, what’s up everybody?

This is Seth Perler, and in this video I’m going to tell parents and teachers why executive function is such a hot topic today, at least in my opinion.

To me, there are two main reasons executive function has become such an important topic.

The first reason is simple: people didn’t used to know about it. Awareness is growing, but I don’t think the term has ever become truly popular because it sounds very clinical.

Right now, I’m here in Colorado after a very long day working on the Executive Function Online Summit, a free summit for parents. In the background, you can see the Flatirons—those beautiful mountains behind me.

I’m a little out of breath from hiking, but you wouldn’t say, “Seth, it looks like your respiratory and circulatory systems are working hard.” You’d simply say, “You look out of breath.”

The same thing happens with executive function. The term sounds scientific and clinical. It feels abstract and difficult to grasp.

I like to think of executive function as the art of getting things done. It’s how the front part of our brain helps us manage tasks, solve problems, stay organized, and accomplish important things.

The second reason I don’t think people know much about executive function is that teachers often aren’t trained in it.

Our educational system places a heavy emphasis on covering curriculum, using textbooks, preparing for tests, and measuring test scores. As a result, executive function skills often don’t receive much attention.

I can’t tell you how many teachers I’ve spoken with who have never even heard the term. And many of those who have heard of it don’t know much about it.

Those are the two main reasons I don’t think executive function has become part of everyday conversation.

That’s also one of the reasons I created the Executive Function Online Summit, happening August 23rd through 25th. It’s a free online event for parents featuring about 23 experts from different fields who go deeply into topics related to executive function because I believe it’s something people need to understand.

Now, here’s why I personally believe executive function is the most important term that parents and teachers don’t fully understand.

Executive function is the part of the brain that helps us get things done.

When we don’t understand executive function, we often make a critical mistake: we shame kids.

What do I mean by that?

We see the visible problems—the tip of the iceberg. We see the missing homework, declining grades, procrastination, lost belongings, disorganization, and poor time management.

But we don’t see what’s underneath the surface.

And because we don’t understand what’s underneath, we often assume the problem is that the child isn’t trying hard enough.

We tell them:

“You need to work harder.”

“You need to try harder.”

“You need to be more motivated.”

“You need to be more disciplined.”

But many of these kids are already trying incredibly hard. They’re frustrated, discouraged, and exhausted. Their brains are struggling to figure out how to execute the tasks we’re asking them to do.

When we assume it’s a matter of effort or attitude, we create shame.

When we understand executive function, however, we realize that the issue is often not willfulness. The child may genuinely lack the executive function skills needed to do what we’re asking.

Once we understand that, we stop approaching them from a place of judgment and start approaching them from a place of compassion and appropriate support.

Instead of telling them to try harder, we can help them build the skills they need to succeed.

Anyway, that’s my perspective.

Be sure to check out the Executive Function Summit. Sign up—it’s free, and it’s coming up soon.

I hope to see you there.