Tips and Tricks to Work Through Writer’s Block

Task initiation is an executive function that refers to one’s ability to begin a new task in a timely manner without prompts or reminders. Children who struggle with task initiation show it in different ways. While one child may stare at a blank computer screen, another may procrastinate or avoid a task altogether. These behaviors are typically observed more frequently with tasks that require multi-step processes or critical thinking. Because many writing assignments require students to engage in the entire multi-step writing process, students with poor task initiation skills often feel overwhelmed, or even develop writer’s block (the inability to start or continue writing for reasons other than lack of skill or commitment).

This blog shares simple tips and tricks to help students initiate writing tasks or overcome the dreaded writer’s block:

Create an outline

Creating a plan for writing assignments is a big help. For younger grades, graphic organizers and brainstorming maps can be extremely beneficial. Older students can create an outline to help organize their ideas and thoughts. The planning phase is also a great time to determine how long each section will take to complete! It may be helpful to create a schedule to determine when each section will be completed. Schedules can increase motivation and help incorporate planned breaks into longer projects.

Work backwards

Knowing where something ends can help the brain process the information in a new way. It can take the anxiety out of reading a new book, watching a new show, or even writing a paper. If students get stuck trying to figure out the perfect beginning, they can try writing the end of the assignment first and working backwards. 

Find Resources and Examples

If a writing assignment requires the use of resources or specific examples from a text, students cab try outlining these ideas if they get stuck in the process. This can spark new ideas and help redirect thoughts. For younger grades, finding resources and thinking of specific examples can help your child write strong, detailed sentences. It will also help chunk the assignment into smaller workloads, which can help motivate them to get started with the physical writing part.

Relocate or Reorganize for Less Distraction

Relocating to a new location or decluttering the current work station may increase the chance of curing the student’s writer’s block. If the student usually works in their room, they can try working at the kitchen table or in a public setting, such as a library. If your child’s workspace is cluttered, try helping them declutter it or move them to a new tidy space to prevent unnecessary distractions. 

If your child focuses best with background noise, be sure they use familiar sounds (songs, shows, etc.) that do not require their attention to be shared between multiple tasks. With struggles in task initiation, it will be easy for a child’s brain to choose the more exciting task to attend to - be sure that your child’s background noise is supporting their brain’s thinking process and not inviting distractions to take over. 

Use Breaks and Rewards as Motivation

Breaks are an easy way to keep kids motivated and encourage them to get started on the a new section of the assignment. When using breaks and rewards, be sure to use a timer for time on task. Checklists can be used as a visual reminder to see how much progress has been made! For example, your child could create a list of individual sections they need to complete (i.e. Introduction, 10 minute break, Paragraph 1, 10 minute break…) and cross each one off as they finish. Using positive reinforcement and self-talk can help your child overcome writer’s block and motivate them to keep working. 

When writer’s block strikes, it can seem impossible to overcome. Sometimes the best medicine is taking a break, re-organizing, and finding a groove!

Written by Ami Z.

Developing Executive Functioning Skills through Creativity in the Kitchen

Are you searching for fun and unique ways to help children continue to develop and strengthen their executive functioning skills over winter break? Look no further than… the kitchen! The kitchen is an incredible place to work on key skills like as planning, organization, time management, task initiation, sustained attention, and self-control. Food preparation not only enhances executive functioning skills, but also promotes social skills, responsibility, fine motor skills, and self-esteem! Below are some exciting activities that promote skill building and creativity!

Trail Mix

Trail mix is particularly great for young kids! Start by having children create a list of their favorite trail mix add-ins (think mixed nuts, dried fruits, chocolate chips, raisins, M&M’s, etc.). Then, take them along to the grocery store to help find the ingredients. Once home, measure out the correct amount of each trail mix ingredient and let them scoop, pour, and stir to their heart’s content. Bless This Mess offers some fun DIY trail mix recipes here.

Fruit Kebabs

Fruit kebabs are not only fun to make but also pleasing to the eyes and delicious to eat! Creating fruit kebabs targets skills like planning, sequencing, fine motor, and organization. Select the desired fruits for the kebabs, and again, have children accompany you to the store to ensure all necessary items are purchased. Once home, ask them to write out the order in which they want to assemble each fruit kebab. Older kids, with supervision, can help cut up and organize the fruit into separate bowls to make assembly easier. After these steps, everyone can join in assembling the skewers and enjoy the end result together. Here is a fun rainbow variation to try by Healthy Little Foodies!

Ice Cream Sundae Bar

Undoubtedly the most enjoyable of all activities, working together to create an ice cream sundae bar will create special memories while also developing key executive function skills like organization. It’s a win-win! You'll need a few different kinds of ice cream, your favorite toppings, and sauces. Younger kids can color and make labels for each of the toppings, while older kids can type them up and print them out. Everyone can help separate and organize all the toppings into small bowls or containers and decide how to arrange them on the table. Planning is also an important step prior to actually building the sundae creation so the treat turns out as desired. If you’re feeling extra adventurous, you can try out a homemade vanilla ice cream recipe by Chocolate Slopes here.

Overnight Oats

Preparing overnight oats is a wonderful activity to help with task initiation and time management. Since they need to be made the evening before, children have to remember to plan accordingly. This one is also excellent for older kids because they need to ensure they get the correct ratio of oats to milk, etc. Not only are overnight oats a great source of nutrients and fiber, but they can be personalized with a variety of ingredients to fit your kids’ taste buds. Workweek Lunch provides some kid-friendly recipes here.

All of the above activities help build executive functioning skills. As parents or caregivers, be sure to set expectations by providing clear instructions, helping when necessary, and assigning responsibilities appropriate to the child's age level. This blog by Lukin Center of Psychology offers a comprehensive list of age-appropriate tasks in the kitchen.

And, if you’re looking for some winter specific activities to try out at home, see our past Peak blog here for some ideas!

Written by Laine J.

Building a Sense of Time: The First Step to Time Management

Most kids naturally become curious about time as they learn more about the world around them. “Are we there yet?”, “How many more minutes until dinner is ready?”. “How much longer will it be?” While these questions may seem simple, and maybe even overwhelming at times, kids are beginning to develop their curiosity about the concept of time. And even though this may be easy to dismiss or ignore, you can use this curiosity to their advantage by guiding children through the first steps to successful time management skills. 

Time management incorporates a variety of abilities such as: estimating the time required on a task, identifying how much time you will need to complete a task, and allocating an appropriate amount of time to specific tasks. These skills can be particularly challenging for students who require additional support with executive functioning skills, but practicing various time management skills at home will help strengthen these deficits.

Concepts of Time

Young children begin exploring different times throughout the day by using words such as morning, afternoon, nighttime, bedtime, and more. Once they enter school, they may use different subjects to discuss the time of day. For example, they may use lunch, recess, specials, etc. as a reference point when talking about their day. Teaching words and routines related to different parts of the day (specifically AM and PM) can help students develop this concept. 

Your child will also benefit from calendar conversations. Talking about seasons, months, days, and even years for the older elementary students, will help strengthen their fundamental concepts of time. 

Work Stamina Development

When developing a new skill, young children may not have the required work stamina required to complete specific projects, activities, or schoolwork. For example, when students enter first grade, they typically need to practice building their reading stamina so they can independently read for 15-20 minutes. Using a timer can support their work stamina and exercise their ability to refocus for a specific amount of time. Visual timers can help children develop their sense of time as they become familiar with different lengths of time.

Visual Supports

When children use visual supports to develop time management skills, they are more likely to be able to recall steps and processes independently as they become proficient with the task. Some visual supports that will help strengthen working memory and time management skills include timers, clocks, checklists, to-do lists, chore labels, AM/PM routines, monthly/weekly/daily schedules, academic planners, and visual reminders for important dates. These resources can be used in combination with other supports to solidify learned skills.

Routines and Procedures

Following routines and procedures at home is an incredibly effective way to help children develop time management skills—especially when these routines are displayed in an easily accessible location for children. Routines can benefit time management skills as they break down a longer process into more manageable and smaller steps. It also helps them begin building an understanding of how much time is required to complete each step. 

Planning and Organizing

Children can practice time management skills when they plan and organize. Younger children will need more guided practice when planning and organizing their time. Thinking aloud to children about schedules, homework due dates, and other important dates/times will help them develop foundational skills. As children get older, planning and organizing becomes more challenging. Older children often have more tasks to manage and have more rigorous assignments to complete. Using an academic/personal planner can help children prioritize assignments, allocate time appropriately, and strengthen these skills so they are ready to practice them independently in middle school.

“Work smarter, not harder” is a common phrase heard in adulthood and frequently in the workplace. While it can be considered “office small talk”, it also reiterates the benefit of strong time management skills. By teaching children to work “smarter” by focusing on the time required to complete each task in a process, young children will be able to build on these skills to develop independence and continue strengthening their skills through adulthood.

Written by Ami Z.

The Do’s and Don’ts of Checklists That Work

For students with ADHD or executive function challenges, managing daily tasks for school and home can feel pretty overwhelming. For one reason, they tend to have underdeveloped working memory skills. This can influence many aspects of their life, from struggling to track assignments to misplacing materials to falling behind on daily responsibilities. While checklists are often suggested as a go-to tool for working memory support, they will only be effective if the student understands how to use and apply them. So, how can you make checklists more effective, less overwhelming, and actually productive for your child? Let’s take a look at the do’s and don’ts of checklists that ACTUALLY work.

DON’T: Overdo it. Expecting your child to jump right in and use a checklist for everything is an unreasonable expectation.

DO: Start by introducing 1-2 simple checklists so your child can feel success. You can offer scaffolding and support in other areas while they work on developing this new skill. Once they have mastered their introductory checklists, you can explore adding more!

DON’T: Only use checklists as to-do lists. Children should have the opportunity to see the function of checklists in multiple settings.

DO: Create checklists for important items to remember and routines to follow. Checklists can be used to make sure kids follow all steps while learning a new routine or to make sure they have all of their materials or equipment for an activity!

DON’T: Make one long list of tasks to complete. This can be overwhelming and cause confusion when trying to prioritize deadlines and due dates.

DO: Create an individual checklist for each aspect of life. Whether it be school-related, extracurricular, or personal, separate tasks into individual categories. This will help students prioritize tasks based on level of importance (i.e. school work should be completed before a fun personal project).

DON’T: Tuck checklists away in a folder or drawer. If they’re kept out of sight, they will most likely be kept out of mind.

DO: Keep each checklist organized and in a designated spot. Help children by placing checklists in common areas, or related areas, where they can easily access them as part of their normal routine. For example, a checklist posted next to a backpack may help your child remember to pack all of their belongings before leaving for school. If beneficial, lists can also be transformed into transportable bag tags or eventually put in electronic format on a phone for older kids.

DON’T: Only use checklists once per week. New habits are difficult to form if practiced infrequently.

DO: Encourage your child to check and revise their lists at least once per day so they can finish up or reassign any uncompleted tasks and prepare for the next day! Build a consistent routine at a fitting time each day. For example, it may be appropriate to check a “Turn In” list right after school before leaving campus to catch any missed items.

DON’T: Simply make a list. A list is a great starting point, but simply creating one does not teach kids how to use it.

DO: Model how to use a checklist and practice with your child. Physically checking items off on a list will clarify what is left and also feel rewarding!

DON’T: Expect children to be able to complete all of their tasks or prioritize their schedules independently. Executive functioning skills take practice and need to be taught! 

DO: Have weekly planning meetings to go over your child’s responsibilities. This is a great way to communicate expectations for the week, check school grade postings for missing items, and share family events/reminders. It also provides an opportunity for you to model how to create checklists for the week ahead. Try using the think-aloud strategy to demonstrate how your brain is processing information as you create lists.

Just remember, not everyone has fully developed working memory skills. Checklists can be a great support to help kids manage their daily to-do's but they might need to practice and try different strategies until they find some that work!

Written by Ami Z. and Krista G.

Strategic Organizational Systems for a Successful School Year

With the start of a new school year, it is the perfect time to lay a strong foundation for success through the use of student organizational systems. From transforming cluttered corners into calm and cozy workspaces, to navigating the chaos of lockers, backpacks, and binders, strategic systems provide students with the essential tools to manage their workload with ease.

Crafting an Effective Home Workspace

Crafting and nurturing an environment conducive to focused study time is a fundamental aspect of academic success. To establish an efficient home workspace, consider these key factors. Opt for a quiet and well-lit area. A dedicated room or a corner within a room can provide the calm vibes needed for optimal concentration. Adequate lighting and comfortable yet supportive seating also help to sustain study sessions. Assign a specific place for each item on and around the desk. By creating labels and designating spots for supplies, workflow becomes more streamlined. Introducing daily, weekly, and monthly decluttering checklists empowers students to maintain their workspace and keep it more efficient. For those who struggle with task initiation or require frequent breaks, employing time management tools, such as timers or alarms, can be beneficial. Lastly, personalize the workspace with items like fairy lights, potted plants, cheerful office supplies, or framed family photos to foster an inviting and warm atmosphere.

Maintaining a Clutter-Free Backpack

Backpack organization is essential for management of school materials and staying on top of school assignments. Begin by designating distinct pockets for various items like phones, calculators, snacks, and writing utensils. Adding labels to each compartment or pocket can help maintain order as well. Preparing the backpack the night before school not only alleviates the dreaded morning rush, but also reduces the likelihood of forgetting crucial assignments or items. Regular sessions for tidying up, whether on a weekly or monthly basis, are essential for decluttering compartments and discarding old trash or papers. A laminated backpack checklist serves as a practical tool to ensure all essentials are prepped and packed each day.

Utilizing a Binder or Accordion File System

By creating a system to keep school assignments and papers neat and organized, students will easily be able to access their homework and class materials and be more prepared for quizzes, tests and long-term projects. Students should choose the best system based on their individual needs and preference, whether it be a traditional binder, a Trapper Keeper or Case-It, or an accordion folder system. It’s beneficial to use dividers and tabs to assign separate sections for each school subject. Color-coding offers an effective method for distinguishing subjects and assignments. Sheet protectors protect important papers from wear and tear, and keeping a three-hole punch at home facilitates easily adding unpunched papers into the binder. Consistently dedicating time each month to declutter, organize, and eliminate outdated papers ensures efficiency throughout the school year.

Unlocking the Key to Locker Success

A clean and tidy locker can make passing periods more efficient and help prevent students from losing school supplies and assignments. Purchase shelving and compartments to optimize locker space, making it functional for the assortment of necessities. Nowadays, there are many options for magnetic organizers or hooks to add to the locker's functionality. Placing a laminated class schedule within the locker aids in packing materials according to class order. Keep only the essentials in the locker to avoid a mess and schedule a weekly time for locker clean out. As with the home workspace, items such as pictures, uplifting quotes, or decorative magnets can instill a personal touch.

By embracing strategic systems as those outlined above, students can elevate their organizational skills, setting the stage for a successful school year!

Written by Laine J.

Creating the Ultimate Calm Down Kit: Using the Five Senses to Reset and Regulate

What is a calm down kit you ask? Well, a calm down kit is a tool that can be used to help children self-regulate, center themselves, and reset. Building a calm down kit does not have to be expensive or complicated. You and your child can create a simple and effective calm down kit by focusing on items that engage with the five senses. So, grab a basket, box or bag and let’s begin to curate the ultimate calm down kit!

Below are some ideas for items or activities that your child might enjoy placing in their calm down kit that correlate with each of the five senses: Sight, Touch, Listen, Smell, and Taste.

Sight:

Items to add to your child’s calm down basket that will appeal to the visual senses might include:

-breathing exercise cards

-glitter jar or snow globe

-I Spy book

-family photo album

Touch

Below are some tools to help your child engage with the sense of touch:

-fidget toy, like a Pop-It

-palm or scalp massager

-putty or slime

-stress ball

-sensory bag or pillow

-Rubik’s cube

-soft and cozy blanket

-if younger, a favorite stuffed animal

Listen:

Items that will create a sense of calmness through listening might include:

-headphones to listen to a calming playlist

-rainstick

-sound machine

-music box

-chimes or gentle bells

Smell:

Aromatherapy is a great way to immediately trigger a sense of calm. Here are some objects you can add to your child’s calm kit to ignite the sense of smell:

-essential oils

-nature scents

-lotions

-scented markers

-scratch and sniff stickers

-candles

-diffusers

Taste:

It’s always nice for your child to have a little treat or something appealing to their sense of taste:

-dark chocolate

-mints or gum

-tea

-hard candy or lollipop

-favorite quick snack

Other Items to Include:

Some other items you may want to think about including in your child’s calm down basket might include:

-mindfulness coloring books

-yoga pose cards

-small puzzles or crossword books

-gratitude or regular journal

-bubbles

Depending on your child’s age and general self-regulation needs, invite them to select about 8-12 items to place in their calm basket to start. Objects can be swapped out monthly or seasonally. After selecting items for the kit, set some boundaries about when and how to use it. Your child should find a special place to put their calm down kit, ideally in a quiet and comfortable environment. A good time to use this kit is whenever they are feeling overwhelmed or frustrated or experiencing any other big emotion.

Calm down kits should be used for around 10-15 minutes per session as a quick brain and emotional reset. During this time your child should choose 2-3 items that they are drawn toward and that they feel will help them regulate their emotions and lift their mood.

A calm down kit is a simple and effective tool for social and emotional regulation that can be added to your house today! Here is an example of a calm basket shared on Peak’s Instagram account.

Written by Laine J.

Tips and Tricks to Strengthen Working Memory in Math

Of all of the executive functioning skills required to succeed in mathematics, working memory may be one of the most important! Working memory refers to how the brain uses, holds, processes and manipulates the information stored in our short-term memory. Working memory allows us to plan, problem solve and reason, all of which go hand-in-hand with the necessary skills to complete a math problem. Let’s dive into some tips and tricks which can help to strengthen working memory, specifically in relation to the world of math!

Play Games

There are many popular games that can be played as a family that utilize working memory. Games like Concentration, Uno, Crazy Eights and Go Fish all require the players to use their working memory system. Simon Says, Follow the Beat, Tongue Twisters, puzzles and brain teasers are other excellent examples of activities that can be used to strengthen working memory. In many of these activities, our brains must actively recall information, and in-turn manipulate it to make the next move!

Put Your Child in the Teacher Role

When working through a new math concept, once a child has begun to master the concept at hand, they should attempt to teach someone else how to do it. When the child becomes the teacher, they are switching into a more active role and thus enhancing their working memory skills. For example, if a child is working on adding fractions with a different denominator, they should be able to walk someone else through each step necessary to solve this kind of problem and explain the “why” behind it.

Practice Every Day

For things like math facts (simple and quick math problems across the four operations), practicing every day can help to reduce the strain on working memory capacity. The more automatic these quick facts become, the more space is freed up in the brain to utilize other math skills and solve larger and more complex mathematical equations and word problems.

Visualize

When working on word problems, it is best to come up with various visualization strategies that can be used to solve each problem. Examples of visualization strategies in math might be drawing an array, making pictures or using math manipulatives.

Make a Plan

A great general rule of thumb for math problems (especially those tricky word problems) is to NEVER leave math in your head. This means write down as much as possible. Circle, underline or highlight the key words in a math problem and then make a plan to solve. Write out each step as a number sentence, and use the visualization tools mentioned above to help solve the problem.

Practice Yoga & Mindfulness

Research has shown activities like yoga and mindfulness can improve working memory. Both of these practices aim to draw our attention to how and when our mind wanders, which in turn can help increase focus and the working memory function of the brain. There are many wonderful YouTube channels for kids yoga, such as Cosmic Yoga that can be completed daily. Alternately, try simple breathing exercises in the car on the way to school as a way to practice mindfulness each day.

Use Mnemonics and Songs

Making a mnemonic device or turning something that needs to be memorized into a song are two more fantastic ways to strengthen working memory. The most famous mnemonics device in Math is PEMDAS with “Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally” as the words to remember the order of operations. There are also fun and silly songs on YouTube to help learn and memorize math facts. Putting information into a catchy song allows our brain to more easily store and remember it!

Written by Laine J.