Overview of Executive Function and Working Memory for Kids

W E L C O M EG TA PA R E N T S O F K I D S W I T H A T T E N T I O N A N D O R G A N I Z A T I O N A L C H A L L E N G E S

A G E N D A

• Our Mission

• Our Sponsors

• Executive Function & Working Memory - Dr. Jack Muskat

• Top Parenting Tips for Attention & Organizationally Challenged Kids - Andrea Del Vecchio

• Questions, discussion

G R O U P M I S S I O N

To help Attention & Organizationally Challenged Kids Succeed by providing parents with:

• Learning opportunities

• Mutual Support

• Connections

BrightLane http://brightlane.ca

Pizzeria Librettohttp://pizzerialibretto.com

Brili http://brili.co

O U R S P O N S O R S

E X E C U T I V E F U N C T I O N A N D W O R K I N G M E M O R Y

D R . J A C K M U S K A T, P H . D . S C H O O L & C L I N I C A L P S Y C H O L O G I S T

1. Goal setting

2. Planning & organizing

3. Impulse control

4. Initiating

5. Holding a plan in mind

6. Flexibility

7. Self-monitoring

8. Task monitoring

W H AT I S E X E C U T I V E F U N C T I O N ?

W H Y I S E X E C U T I V E F U N C T I O N I M P O R TA N T ?

• School Readiness

• Self-Discipline

• Social Relationships

A I R T R A F F I C C O N T R O L

E X E C U T I V E F U N C T I O N I S T H E B R A I N ’ S

• Inhibitory Control

• Working Memory

• Cognitive Flexibility

E X E C U T I V E F U N C T I O N I S L I K E A M U S C L E

• Improves with practice

• Effortful to use

• Impacted by available energy

• Depleted by usage

• Increases throughout development

W O R K I N G M E M O R Y

T H E R O L E O F

• Stores information long

enough to use it

• Concentration

• Following instructions

PA R T O F O U R M E M O R Y S Y S T E M

S E N S O R Y M E M O R Y

S H O R T- T E R M M E M O R Y

L O N G - T E R M M E M O R Y

R E H E A R S A L

W O R K I N G M E M O R Y

T H E W O R K I N G M E M O R Y S Y S T E M

C E N T R A L E X E C U T I V E

V E R B A L - A U D I T O R Y M E M O R Y

V I S U A L - S PAT I A L S C R AT C H PA D

ABC | 123

7 T H I N G S F O R 7 S E C O N D ST H E W O R K I N G M E M O R Y 7 4 7 R U L E

E M O T I O N A L S T R E S S R E D U C E S W O R K I N G M E M O R Y C A PA C I T Y

C R E AT I V I T YW O R K I N G M E M O R Y I S N E E D E D T O C O N N E C T I D E A S A N D F O R

W O R K I N G M E M O R Y

• Needed to make sense of things that unfold over time

• Needed for multitasking

C O M M O N W O R K I N G M E M O R Y P R O B L E M S

• Losing track of information or directions

• Difficulty multitasking or remembering procedures on tasks

• Appearing inattentive

M E M O R Y I M P R O V E M E N T S T R AT E G I E S

• Short, frequent sessions(5-10 mins max)

• Quiz after 1 day, self testing

• Flash cards, playing cards

• Reducing interference

• Visual grids and verbalizing

Q U E S T I O N S ?D R . J A C K M U S K A T, P H . D .