My #1 pandemic related concern, parents, teachers, students

Hey parents and teachers,

I hope you are well, safe, happy, and healthy, and navigating this time as gracefully as humanly possible given your circumstances.

My name is Seth. I’m an executive function coach based in Colorado, and I help struggling students navigate this thing called education so they can have a great life.

During this time of school closures, I want to support you. One of the biggest problems — in fact, probably the biggest problem — that I think you’ll all be facing during this time is related to the concept of opportunity cost.

Let me restate that:

I believe the biggest problem you are going to face during this time has everything to do with opportunity cost.

Here’s what I mean.

We don’t know whether this situation will last weeks or months, but every child’s future is affected by how they use this time. We educate children because we want them to have good futures.

What does education really mean?

It means empowering them with the tools, skills, knowledge, and experiences they need to create a meaningful and successful life.

For kids who struggle with executive function, they are at risk of not being able to execute consistently. In other words, they struggle with things like:

* Time management
* Homework
* Grades
* Getting things done
* Self-starting
* Organization
* Prioritization

They struggle with “doing school.”

If these kids don’t learn how to execute well enough — if they don’t develop organizational skills, time management, prioritization, and other executive function skills — it can impact their future.

The risk is that they won’t be able to accomplish goals that truly matter to them. They may struggle to build purposeful lives, healthy relationships, careers, and independence because they don’t yet have the skills to do things that need to be done, especially when they don’t feel like doing them.

They resist. They procrastinate. They avoid non-preferred activities.

I know I’m speaking quickly, and I apologize for that, but this is an overview video.

I’m going to continue creating content for parents and teachers right here on this page, along with PDFs occasionally. Please tell me what you need and what you want help with.

I’ll be addressing topics that I believe are especially important during this time so that you can take advantage of the opportunities available right now — opportunities for kids to invest in their own futures.

If you like what I’m doing, please share this with families, parents, and teachers. Share it on Facebook or anywhere else you think it may help people.

If you’re watching this on YouTube, please give it a thumbs up, leave comments, and engage with it however you can. That helps the message reach more people.

And please subscribe on my website. I send out a weekly vlog every single week to support families struggling with executive function challenges.

Now, back to opportunity cost.

The reason I think opportunity cost is the biggest issue here is because every choice comes with a tradeoff.

Anytime we do one thing, we are not doing another thing.

For example, if I invest money into my retirement, that investment grows over time. But if I spend all of that money on $300 dinners every night instead, I’m not going to see the same long-term benefit.

Education works the same way.

I want students investing in the things they’re going to need in life:

* Navigating social relationships
* Problem-solving
* Communicating with people
* Listening well
* Thinking critically
* Reading and writing effectively
* Doing math
* Creating art
* Thinking creatively and outside the box

They also need executive function skills so they can:

* Plan
* Organize
* Execute
* Accomplish goals
* Follow through

Even when they don’t feel like it.

They need to learn how to regulate emotions and move through resistance.

All of these things matter deeply.

One of my biggest fears right now is that this becomes a total free-for-all, where kids believe they are simply on an endless break with no responsibilities or structure.

Now, I absolutely want kids to have freedom, flexibility, and fun in life. But if there is no structure for weeks — or worst case, many months — then what systems are in place for how they use their time?

Parents, let me tell you:
If things become completely chaotic now, trying to reintroduce structure later is going to be very difficult.

That’s why we want to establish at least some structure now.

I want to help walk you through how to create healthy structure during this time.

And if your child struggles with executive function, the number one challenge you’re likely going to face is resistance.

They’ll have excuses.
They’ll know how to push your buttons.
They’ll do almost anything to avoid taking action — even when it’s in their own best interest.

They often lack future thinking. They may intellectually understand that school matters, but that understanding is not yet strong enough to motivate action.

So one of the big questions we’ll be working through together is:

How do we help a resistant child move through resistance so they can invest in their own future?

How do we help them build:

* Great relationships
* Meaningful careers
* Financial stability
* Purposeful work
* A life where they contribute and give back to the world

How do we help them become who they are meant to be?

That’s exactly what I’ll be helping with as well.

Anyhow, please share my work.

I hope you are safe, healthy, and able to move through this time as gracefully as possible.

Take care.