If your child is struggling to get started on homework, loses track of time, or melts down during multi-step assignments, you’re not alone. These aren’t just signs of laziness or defiance—they often point to challenges with executive functions, the brain’s mental tools for managing daily life.
At Lepage Associates, serving Durham, Raleigh, and Chapel Hill, we work with children and teens who struggle with executive functioning. While traditional tutoring focuses on subject matter, the real need is often something deeper: helping kids plan, organize, and follow through. That’s where executive functioning coaching and therapy come in.
What Are Executive Functions?
Executive functions are a set of cognitive skills that help us regulate behavior, make decisions, and achieve goals. They include:
- Working memory – holding and using information in the moment
- Task initiation – getting started without procrastinating
- Time management and organization – estimating time, meeting deadlines, and keeping track of materials
- Inhibitory control – resisting impulses and staying focused
- Problem solving – breaking down challenges and adapting strategies
- Prioritizing tasks – deciding what to do first when there’s a lot to juggle
When these skills are weak, kids may fall behind academically, clash with adults, or internalize the belief that they’re not capable—all of which can affect self-esteem and academic achievement.
How to Spot Executive Functioning Struggles
It’s not always obvious. A child may be bright, verbal, or creative—and still miss deadlines, lose assignments, or freeze when given open-ended instructions. You might notice:
- Frequent forgetfulness (e.g., leaving homework at school)
- Difficulty starting tasks without constant prompting
- Meltdowns during multi-step directions
- Trouble staying focused or shifting between tasks
- Inability to prioritize tasks or manage time on their own
These are not signs your child isn’t trying. They’re signs they don’t yet have the executive function skills they need.
📍 In Chapel Hill, Raleigh, and Durham, our licensed therapists and coaches help kids build the real-world skills they need to find success in school and beyond.
Why Tutoring Isn’t Enough
Tutoring focuses on content—math formulas, reading comprehension, science facts. But when the underlying issue is executive functioning, no amount of content review will address the core problem.
Kids who struggle with executive functioning often know what they need to do. Their challenge lies in how to get started, stay on track, and complete tasks effectively.
Without addressing those skills, tutoring may only increase frustration—for both the child and the family.
What Executive Functioning Coaching Looks Like
Executive functioning coaching goes beyond homework help. It’s about teaching kids how to manage their responsibilities through customized, supportive strategies. These tools don’t just help with grades—they help kids function more independently and confidently in daily life.
Key areas we target include:
1. Breaking Tasks into Manageable Steps
Many kids freeze when an assignment feels too big. We teach them to chunk work into smaller, doable actions that reduce overwhelm and build momentum.
2. Creating Visual Systems for Organization
Color-coded folders, daily checklists, and digital calendars can help kids keep track of deadlines, materials, and goals in a way that makes sense to them.
3. Building Time Awareness
We help kids learn to estimate how long tasks will take, build buffers into their schedule, and use visual timers or alarms to stay on track.
4. Practicing Task Initiation
Rather than just saying “get started,” we model and rehearse how to begin—even if it’s just writing the first sentence or solving one problem. Getting started is often the hardest part.
5. Improving Inhibitory Control
Through coaching and therapy, we teach kids to recognize distractions and use coping tools to refocus when they drift off-task.
🧠 At Lepage Associates, our team in Durham, Raleigh, and Chapel Hill tailors every coaching plan to the child’s unique strengths, challenges, and goals—setting them up for long-term success, not just short-term fixes.
Supporting Executive Function at Home
Parents play a huge role in reinforcing these skills. You don’t need to be your child’s therapist, but you can support skill-building through consistency and compassion. A few tips:
- Use checklists or visual planners for routines
- Give one instruction at a time (especially for younger children)
- Praise the process, not just the result (e.g., “I noticed you got started without being asked—great job!”)
- Stay patient; executive functioning develops gradually and unevenly
And if your child struggles despite your support, you’re not failing. It just means it’s time to bring in expert help.
💬 We work with families throughout Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill to create customized executive function plans that support both the child and their parents in building skills and reducing stress.
Why This Work Matters
Executive functioning isn’t just about surviving school—it’s about thriving in life. Kids who develop strong executive function skills are more likely to succeed academically, build healthier relationships, and manage responsibilities well into adulthood.
These are the skills that help them:
- Remember to bring their lunch
- Navigate a group project
- Turn in an application on time
- Manage a job or a college course load
And it’s not just for kids with ADHD or learning differences. Executive function coaching can benefit any child who feels disorganized, overwhelmed, or stuck.
Final Thought: It’s Not About Getting Ahead—It’s About Catching Up to Their Potential
When kids have the tools they need, they don’t just do better—they feel better. They show up more confident, more capable, and more in control. That’s the power of going beyond tutoring and addressing executive function directly.
🌱 Ready to help your child develop the skills they need for lasting confidence and academic success? Schedule a consultation with our team in Chapel Hill, Durham, or Raleigh and let’s build a plan that works for your child—and your family.