Summer Smarts: How to Boost Your Child’s Executive Functioning Skills During the Break
By Dr. Yanet Vanegas, Licensed Psychologist
As a child psychologist and mom, I know firsthand how the start of summer break can stir up a mix of feelings for families. The end of a school year often brings a collective sigh of relief—no more morning rush, no more late-night homework crises, no more packing lunchboxes in a half-asleep daze. But shortly after the initial excitement wears off, I often hear a different sentiment emerge: “How do I make sure my child doesn’t just lose all their skills over the summer?”
What Are Executive Functioning Skills?
Executive functioning refers to the mental processes that help us plan, focus attention, remember instructions, manage time, regulate emotions, and juggle multiple tasks successfully. These are the skills that help children stay organized, follow through on tasks, solve problems, and adapt to changes. Think of executive functioning as the brain’s management system—it governs how we learn, behave, and relate to others.
In school, these skills are used constantly: remembering to bring home a study guide, staying focused during a test, switching between subjects smoothly, and managing emotions when things get frustrating. But during summer, the structure that naturally supports these skills often disappears.
Why Executive Functioning Skills May Decline in Summer
Without the consistency of a school schedule, many children experience a dip in their executive functioning abilities. The daily structure of classes, deadlines, and routines disappears, and while this break is well-deserved, it can lead to challenges. Some kids may become more forgetful, less motivated, and more emotionally dysregulated without those external supports. Even simple tasks like getting dressed, completing chores, or transitioning between activities can feel harder without a consistent routine.
That’s where we, as parents and caregivers, can step in thoughtfully—not to create a rigid schedule, but to foster these abilities in creative, low-pressure ways.
Building Executive Functioning Through Daily Experiences
First, it’s helpful to shift our mindset. Executive functioning skills are not taught in a vacuum. They grow out of real-life experiences that require problem-solving, patience, and flexible thinking. So rather than thinking about flashcards or rigid practice, I encourage families to see daily routines and summer adventures as natural opportunities to build these skills.
For example, boredom—often seen as a summer villain—is actually a powerful teacher. When a child comes to you saying, “I’m bored,” it can be tempting to offer immediate solutions. But what if, instead, we leaned into that discomfort? What if we said, “Hmm, that sounds tough. What are some things you could do to make your afternoon more interesting?” That gentle redirection invites planning, self-starting, and creativity—all hallmarks of strong executive functioning.
Another strategy is creating a flexible daily rhythm that offers predictability without rigidity. Instead of a strict schedule, consider blocks of time devoted to different types of activities: creative play, outdoor movement, helping around the house, downtime, and social time. Some kids thrive when this is presented visually, like a magnetic or dry-erase board they help organize each morning. This not only supports planning and time management, but also helps children learn how to balance responsibilities with relaxation—a skill even adults struggle with.
One of my favorite summer tools is the “weekly responsibility.” It could be as simple as planning a family game night, preparing lunch on Tuesdays, or managing the recycling. The goal isn’t perfection, but ownership. When children are in charge of a recurring task, they learn to anticipate, organize, follow through, and adjust when something doesn’t go as planned. Letting them stumble a bit, and then supporting their reflection, builds resilience and accountability.
Play-based experiences also offer rich soil for executive functioning growth. Children can design their own scavenger hunts, make board games from scratch, or start a pretend business like a lemonade stand or dog-walking service. Even setting up a neighborhood talent show requires planning, communication, and adaptability. These activities might look like “just fun,” but they are cognitively demanding in the best way.
Older kids and teens might benefit from a summer goal that they set themselves—learning to cook a few meals, finishing a creative project, organizing their room, or practicing a skill. The process of breaking a goal into steps, working toward it consistently, and seeing it through is immensely valuable. Parents can support this by helping them create a timeline or tracking system, but the goal should remain theirs. Ownership is key.
Supporting Emotional Regulation Over the Summer
Another area to nurture during the summer is emotional regulation. Without the daily structure of school, many children experience emotional ups and downs more intensely. They might feel disappointed when plans fall through, frustrated by siblings, or overwhelmed by too much screen time. These moments, while difficult, are teaching moments. When a child becomes dysregulated, we can model calm, validate their feelings, and help them practice coping strategies—taking deep breaths, using words to express themselves, or stepping away until they feel ready to problem-solve.
Visual tools can also help children develop independence with routines and responsibilities. Charts, checklists, and calendars may sound basic, but they externalize the executive demands kids struggle to manage internally. A visual morning checklist can reduce conflict and foster autonomy. A weekly planner for a teen who struggles to remember appointments can be a game-changer. Summer offers the space to experiment with these tools without the pressure of school deadlines.
When to Ask for Help
It’s important to remember that every child develops executive functioning at their own pace. Some will take naturally to organization but struggle with flexibility. Others may be highly creative but find time management nearly impossible. Our role is not to mold them into perfect planners, but to help them become more aware of their strengths and challenges, and to offer tools that support growth.
Of course, if you notice that your child is consistently overwhelmed by daily tasks, melting down frequently, or unable to manage even simple routines without significant support, it may be a sign of a deeper struggle. Children with ADHD, anxiety, or learning differences often need more targeted help. Coaching, therapy, or a consultation with a psychologist can provide valuable guidance and interventions tailored to your child’s needs.
Final Thoughts
Still, for most children, summer is a season of possibility. It’s a time when they can practice life skills in real-world contexts, make mistakes safely, and feel the pride that comes from doing hard things. And for us as parents, it’s a time to slow down just enough to notice those little growth moments—the time they packed their own swim bag without being reminded, or calmed themselves after a sibling fight, or remembered to water the tomato plant they swore they’d take care of.
These victories may not show up on a report card, but they matter deeply. Executive functioning isn’t just about succeeding in school; it’s about navigating life with confidence, flexibility, and purpose.
So as you move through the summer months, look for opportunities to help your child plan, reflect, regulate, and try again. Not through lectures or rigid schedules, but through shared experiences, natural consequences, and the quiet coaching that happens in between popsicles and sunscreen.
Because growth doesn’t take a summer break. And with a little intention, neither do our kids’ minds.
