Executive Function in Summer — Why Boring Tips Don't Work (And What Actually Does)
I had a student who was struggling during the school year — reading comprehension, planning, follow-through. The usual executive function gaps.
Then summer hit, and his family got a puppy. So we did something unconventional. We both bought a book on puppy training. He read it independently, I read it independently. When we met, we talked about what we learned. Then together, we created a plan to train the puppy.
But here's the part that matters: we didn't just make a plan and hope. We also designed a way to track the data — to actually see if the training was working.
Reading comprehension? Check. Planning? Check. Follow-through and evaluation? Check. All of it wrapped up in something he actually cared about.
Here's what most parents do: they give their kid a summer routine. Sit down and plan your day. Organize your tasks. Break projects into steps. It sounds logical, right?
Except your kid's brain doesn't care about logic. The prefrontal cortex — where executive functions live — needs meaning.
If a task doesn't feel meaningful, that part of the brain almost shuts down. Motivation doesn't activate. And suddenly, your kid's "not listening" or "being lazy" when really, their brain just checked out.
So, here's where I could give you tips and tricks. Create routines around chores. Practice planning with boring summer tasks. Build accountability charts for things your kid doesn't care about.
You know what happens?
Nothing.
Because your kid's brain knows those tasks are meaningless. And no amount of willpower fixes that.
Real executive function work happens when your kid is interested. A puppy. Building something. Starting a YouTube channel. A summer job. A passion project.
That's when their brain actually engages. That's when planning, follow-through, and evaluation become real skills — not just things adults make them do.
Summer is the perfect time for this because there's space. There's less pressure. There's room for their interests to drive the learning.
If you're wondering how to actually use summer to build executive function skills — not bore your kid with routines — that's exactly what our summer coaching programs do. We work with what your kid cares about, build real skills through meaningful work, and give you a break from being the enforcer.
Ready to make summer count? Let's figure out what your kid needs. How does that feel? Visit us: Summer with CPC
