The holiday season is not only a time for joy and togetherness but also a perfect opportunity to help your children strengthen their executive functioning (EF) skills. These skills—such as planning, organization, impulse control, and problem-solving—are vital for success in school, work, and life. By weaving EF practice into your holiday activities, you can create meaningful, hands-on learning moments that feel festive and fun. Here’s how you can make the most of the season.
Involve Kids in Holiday Cooking and Baking
Cooking is an excellent way to practice planning, time management, and following instructions.
Plan together: Let your child help decide what to bake or cook. Together, make a shopping list, check the pantry, and organize a trip to the grocery store.
Follow recipes: Encourage kids to read and follow a recipe, measuring ingredients and following steps in order.
Manage time: Discuss how long each dish will take and create a schedule for when to start each part of the meal.
Flexibility: When things don’t go as planned (burnt cookies, anyone?), use it as a chance to model problem-solving and adaptability.
Practice Gift Giving and Making
Gift-giving offers a natural opportunity to build organizational and creative thinking skills.
Making gifts: Set up a craft station where kids can create handmade gifts. This promotes focus, planning, and task completion.
Budgeting: If buying gifts, give your child a budget and let them brainstorm gift ideas, compare prices, and make decisions.
Wrap it up: Let them help wrap gifts, a task that requires spatial reasoning and attention to detail.
Prepare for Guests Together
Getting the house ready for holiday visitors is a great way to teach task initiation and prioritization.
Cleaning with purpose: Divide tasks into manageable chunks. Make a checklist and let your child help decide the order of tasks.
Set up spaces: Invite your child to arrange guest rooms, set the table, or organize seating. Encourage them to think about the needs of your guests.
Teach responsibility: Assign age-appropriate responsibilities and celebrate their contributions to the household.
Encourage Independent Activities
The holiday break is a perfect time to help kids practice independence and self-management skills.
Project-based fun: Encourage activities like card-making, completing a puzzle, or creating art. These tasks build sustained attention and goal-directed persistence.
Reflect together: After they finish, discuss what strategies helped them stay on task or what they might do differently next time.
Take Time Away from Technology
Unplugging from screens gives kids (and parents!) a chance to slow down, connect, and focus on the present.
Family rituals: Plan screen-free moments like sharing a meal, taking a walk, or decorating together.
Mindfulness: Practice being present with activities like storytelling, journaling, or just sitting by the fireplace.
Games That Build EF Skills
Games are a fun and effective way to develop EF skills without kids even realizing they’re learning. Here are a few excellent options:
Board games:
Ticket to Ride, Checkers, Chess (planning and strategy)
Blokus (spatial reasoning)
Catan Junior (resource management and flexibility)
Card games:
Uno (working memory and impulse control)
Set (pattern recognition and cognitive flexibility)
Collaborative games:
Pandemic or Forbidden Island (teamwork and decision-making)
Playing games as a family also strengthens bonds and models how to manage emotions during wins and losses.
Slow Down and Enjoy the Moment
Amidst the hustle and bustle, take time to connect with your children. Use this time to reflect on the past year, set goals for the new one, and reinforce how executive functioning helps in everyday life.
By incorporating these activities into your holiday routine, you’re not only creating memories but also equipping your children with the tools they need to thrive.
Executive functioning takes time to build, and it is learned where there is context in the natural environment. With consistency and creativity, the holiday season can become a meaningful time for growth.
Here’s to a happy, productive, and EF-building holiday season!
Warmly,
The Igniting Your Mind Team of Coaches 🎄✨
NIcole R., Amy, Vicki, Karen A., Nicole F., & Karen S.
Our personalized coaching services provide practical strategies for nurturing a growth mindset and confidence in your child. We are here to guide you and your family. Take the first step – book your consultation today and start your journey toward success.
You can click here to schedule a complimentary consultation!
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