What the EF? How to Support Planning & Prioritization
When someone struggles with planning and prioritization, it's easy to assume they just aren't trying hard enough, don't care, or need to be more organized. But for many people with ADHD, these skills rely on executive functioning processes that simply don't happen automatically.
Planning and prioritization require us to hold multiple pieces of information in mind, estimate time, anticipate future needs, organize tasks into a logical sequence, determine what matters most, and decide where to begin. That's a tremendous amount of mental work happening behind the scenes. Those who seem to “just know” how to do this, may not even realize how many mental processes they have running at one time. But, for those of us who struggle with executive functioning, these invisible steps feel like huge roadblocks, whether we can even fully identify and understand what exactly the barrier is.
The good news is that planning and prioritization can be supported. The goal isn't to do everything for someone else, but rather to reduce unnecessary cognitive load while helping them strengthen their skills in these areas.
Positive Notes for Kids: A 14-Day Connection Activity Parents Can Start Today
A low-effort activity that makes a big impact
A few years ago, I saw a post from HR Mom about a Valentine’s activity parents/caregivers could do for their kids that felt worthwhile and actually doable (even with my own executive functioning challenges) that could counterbalance some of the negative messaging my ADHD kids might receive from myself and others:
The Activity:
Write one thing you love about your child on a paper heart and hang it on their door each night from February 1st–13th.
Back to School Reminders for Parents of ADHD Children
The back-to-school season is a big shift for children and parents alike. New routines, earlier mornings, changing expectations, new social interactions, remembering all of the things, it can feel like a lot all at once, especially for ADHD families.
Whether this is your first year navigating it or you’ve done it many times before, here are some reminders I find myself sharing with parents (and myself!) to keep in mind during the transition period.
Navigating Transitions with ADHD
Transitions, whether big or small, can be particularly challenging for both children and adults with ADHD. From starting a new school year to dealing with last-minute changes in your day, these shifts can disrupt your focus, organization, plan and overall sense of stability. With the right strategies, you can navigate these changes with a bit more ease. Let’s explore how to manage both major life transitions and everyday disruptions.
Helping Your Child Transition to College
Conversations to have before your student goes off to college. Review a list of suggested conversations parents can have with their students. Written by ADHD Coach & Educator, Bobbi-Jo Molokken.
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