By Dr. Ama Thompson, Student Support Coordinator
 | We love to slow down and have more unstructured time when summer finally arrives. However, there are still opportunities to foster the development of executive functioning skills. Executive functions are cognitive controls and self-regulation skills that help us manage all tasks, and they don’t stop over the summer. Skills such as time management, planning, problem-solving, and self-regulation continue to develop during the summer months. Creative experiences and intentional planning can make summer a productive time to strengthen executive functioning skills. |
 Create a Summer Schedule Routines and structure are overarching components integral to developing executive functioning skills. During the summer, there continues to be value in following routines and increasing the structure of tasks. Thus, schedules continue to be key; however, they may take different forms. While hour by hour schedules may be used, a set of guidelines or list of tasks can also serve the same purpose during the summer. Whether your family uses a set time-based schedule, a task list, or a set of guidelines, having a structure to each day is key. Elements of a summer schedule might include:
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 Rethink Summer Learning Parents and teachers are always conscious of the “summer slide” of academic skills. Including summer learning in your summer schedule can keep academic skills fresh and re-enforce some executive functioning skills such as attention, working memory, problem-solving, and reasoning. During the summer, rethink learning tasks so that they take on a different vibe. Aim for daily learning that looks different from the school year. Follow your child’s lead and match activities to your child’s interests to increase motivation.
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 Develop Creative Passion Projects Summer is a great time to be creative and have fun following your passion. Working on projects, like creating a vegetable garden, redecorating a bedroom, or planning a family activity or trip can be great opportunities to develop several executive functioning skill areas in one project. Planning, organization, time management, materials management, perseverance, and problem-solving can all be practiced while executing a creative project. Children can follow their passions, learn by doing, and explore new experiences. To highlight executive functioning in project planning and execution, integrate typical executive functioning strategies.
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Establishing a rhythm to summer days that includes a routine, summer learning, and passion projects can continue to re-enforce and strengthen executive functioning skills.
If you are curious to learn more about SAA, and the student support experience, you can schedule a virtual meeting with admissions. We look forward to meeting you and hearing more about your child.
 | Dr. Ama R. Thompson Student Support Coordinator |
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