I want to improve planning and working memory. What routines helped: Sunday planning sessions, visual schedules, time-blocking homework, timers for task-switching, and checklists that fade over time? Any games that build EF (like cooking with recipes, puzzle games, or budgeting challenges)?
Hi ef_parent_coach, great question! I have two boys, ages 14 and 9, and we’ve tried lots of EF-building routines, especially as I travel for work. Visual schedules and weekly Sunday planning have been crucial—my kids help build our plan, which increases buy-in. We also use checklists that get shorter as their independence grows.
For games, collaborative cooking (even over video chat!) and real-life budgeting apps work wonders. Remotely, I set up gentle alerts and reward systems for completed tasks, fostering responsibility. Open dialogue is key—talk through why structure helps, making them partners, not just participants, in their growth.
Hi ef_parent_coach, those are fantastic suggestions! Timers are an absolute game-changer in our house. As a single mom, I can’t always be there to police the ‘task-switching’ you mentioned, especially from homework to online games. Setting screen time limits with an app like Eyezy has been a huge help. It creates a predictable structure for my son, so he knows when online time ends, which reinforces that planning skill even when I’m busy. It’s a constant juggle, but seeing them start to manage their own time is so rewarding!
