Monthly Tip: Executive Functioning, Language, and Fun: A Triple Treat for the Holidays

Monthly Tip

December 2020

Executive Functioning, Language, and Fun: A Triple Treat for the Holidays

With the holiday season just around the corner, you may be looking for fun activities to keep your children busy and off of screens. Many of our children have been engaged with distance learning for the past several months, so showing them that there is a world beyond their computer is crucial. Though it is important for students to rest during this break, there are many fun activities they can do that practice their executive functioning and language skills during the holidays so that they are prepared to return to school next month.

For Younger Kids

With so much free time on their hands, younger kiddos will need some fun, hands-on activities to harness their energy. Here are some ideas that will be engaging and interactive, yet still work on those much-needed executive functioning and language skills.

Scavenger hunts. This is a fun way to practice language and executive functioning skills because it calls for your children to grasp what a clue is saying and then make a plan to follow each clue. You can also strengthen your children’s ability to follow multi-step directions by putting one or two directions in each clue. Additionally, scavenger hunts offer unique opportunities to work on inferential language. For example, a clue could say, “This is the place where mom likes to do her work from home. Find the clue under the table.” If your children enjoy this activity, they can also set up a hunt for the adults.

Decorate cookies. For this activity, you and your children dictate what each other is drawing on their cookie, step-by-step. From shapes to colors to amount of icing, decorating cookies works on language skills, executive functioning, and multi-step directions. Plus, the tasty reward at the end makes it all worth it!

Set up pen pals. Finding a pen pal and having your children send them letters (or emails) can help with both the reading and written aspects of language. Your children can brainstorm ideas, draft a letter, and check if they are conveying information in the way that they want. When they receive a letter from their pen pal, they can keep a list of interesting things that they learn or any new words they see. Plus, there is the added chance for kids to socialize and make connections over break, which is so crucial during COVID. If you are not traveling for the holidays, then writing letters to a grandparent could be a fun alternative.

For Older Kids & College Students

For older kids, the best way to work on language and executive functioning skills is to find activities that interest them and put them in charge. That is especially important this year, where many older children are finding that they are tired of staring at screens all day. Here are some ideas that will keep them stimulated while having fun.

Family board games/games. Everyone loves board games, and Thinking Organized has a blog post all about the secret powers they possess. In addition to helping older children learn to be flexible and strengthen their memory skills, board games are a good way for older kids to enjoy family time off the screens. Some games that work on executive functioning and critical thinking skills include Clue, Mafia, and Coup.

Reflect on the year and set goals. In December, I reflect on the past year and what I am thankful for. I go through pictures on my phone and write about them on a piece of paper. Then I make a list of goals I want to achieve for the upcoming year. Reflecting and thinking about the new year can be a refreshing restart for many older kids who are feeling burnt out with the virtual learning situation. Have your children ask themselves things like, “What was hard this year? What can we do to make it better next year?” Encourage your kids to then make concrete goals that they can work towards in the new year.

Redecorate their room. Let your children take the lead for this project, where they are both the designer and architect. Help them through the process by creating mood boards to brainstorm ideas, listing out the steps to realize an idea, and making concrete schedules. Give them a budget and go with them to shop for items – this will help them prioritize, plan, and achieve.

For Both Age Groups

There are also many activities that work for both younger and older kids. These can be interesting for all ages, as long as you adapt them appropriately. Maybe for a younger child, you want to turn the activity into a fun game, while for an older teen, it is important for them to take responsibility and add their own individual flair to it.

Holiday decorations and gifts. Creating and/or setting up decorations for the holidays works on your children’s language and executive functioning skills. There are so many steps involved, from gathering materials, reading the directions, following the directions, and paying attention to details. Set different decoration tasks for your children so that they feel responsible for completing their portion. Additionally, making any type of craft or gift is an excellent way to work on executive functioning skills as there are so many steps to keep in mind. From testing various designs to learning the steps to knit something, creating items by hand is a fun and educational activity.

Write letters to family members. This can be a great way to reconnect with family members who your children may have not seen in a while. Every holiday, my extended family all meet and enjoy a meal together, and I am sad about not seeing them this year. However, we can take this moment and turn it into something positive by sending letters to family members. From brainstorming ideas for sweet messages to receiving feedback that these ideas are coming across clearly, sending letters is a unique opportunity for your children to strengthen their written language skills.

Holiday meals. Making holiday meals is a wonderful activity because it allows children to practice so many skills while simultaneously helping their parents. Cooking and baking require tons of executive functioning and language skills, including following multi-step directions, planning, and thinking ahead. Have your children create a shopping list of items you need for holiday meals and cross them off the list to keep track of what is in the cart. For younger kids, make this portion of the process a game. They should estimate how long it will take to find all of the items and how much everything will cost; whoever’s guess is the most accurate wins. For older kids, have them be in charge of making a dessert or their favorite dish. Model how you would first gather all of the ingredients, how to measure, and the order of the steps. Have them recite the instructions back to you to practice their memory skills.

Final Thoughts

To make these fun activities go off without a hitch, create a plan of action. Use a calendar to figure out with your children what days are best to do an activity. Setting start and end times gives children a sense of control over their schedule and prevents them from feeling like they are being “forced” into family time. It is also important to get your children directly involved in planning. Instead of asking them if they want to cook on Thursday night, offer them choices: do they want to bake a dessert or cook a dish? And above all, have fun! Do not be afraid to make mistakes and enjoy the time alongside one another.

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Life Hacks

By Jennifer Sax

Change is definitely a theme of 2020. For me, those changes were not just COVID-related: I had a baby! People warned me that motherhood would change my life, but I didn’t truly understand it until I experienced it. Having a baby, returning from maternity leave, and working from home has forced me to alter my routines, and then alter them again and again. I’ve found that what works for me one week doesn’t always work the next as my baby gains skills, becomes more mobile, and adjusts his sleep patterns.

My morning routine is definitely one that I’ve had to streamline. I’ve had to figure out how to get my morning coffee fix, feed my baby, catch up on the daily news, and read through emails before my workday begins. To do this efficiently, I use creative problem solving to find new strategies to better manage my time. In case any other new parents are wondering, click below for some “life hacks” that I’ve recently developed.