Happy Friday, Reader!

Tell me if this sounds familiar:

You tell them to clean their room. Or start that essay. Or work on their science fair project.

They just… stare. Maybe they groan. Maybe they lash out. Maybe they disappear entirely.

Meanwhile, you're wondering: Why is this so hard?! Just get started!

Here’s the thing: when a task feels too big, too unclear, or too overwhelming, kids freeze. It’s not laziness or defiance—it’s their brain hitting a wall.

And here's where the battle begins: You think they should just know how to begin. They assume you're just nagging. No one wins, and nothing gets done.

Three common mistakes I see over and over:

• Assuming a child can make their own plan
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• Believing the task should be easy to finish
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• Expecting them to know how to organize it into steps

The truth? Most students don’t naturally know how to break down big assignments or responsibilities. That’s a skill—one that can be taught.

In this new article, I’m sharing the same method I’ve used as a teacher, parent, and executive function coach to help students finally make progress on those big, intimidating projects.

You’ll learn three simple ways to break down tasks—by time, space, or type—so your child (or student) can stop spinning their wheels and actually move forward.

​Read the full article here: Managing Projects: How to Break Down Tasks for Better Progress​

Let me know what you think—I always love hearing how this works with real kids.

Executive Function Elsewhere in the World

Here are a couple of my favorite articles and resources from this week:

• I’ve been reading several articles from BBC Science Focus Magazine lately. One that was particularly interesting was about what science says about the TikTok fad of “dopamine detoxes” (spoiler alert: it’s quite a mixed bag).
• ADDitude Magazine replayed an excellent webinar on “Avoiding and Recovering from 2e Burnout: Support for Gifted Students.” At BSL, we work with several students who are gifted with an additional diagnosis such as ADHD, autism, dyslexia, etc. (therefore “2e” or twice exceptional), and this webinar had great information for both parents and teachers.

Interested in executive function coaching?

Whether you’re looking for something this spring or hoping to start in the summer or fall, now is the time to book a discovery call and get on our list! Discovery calls are typically 30-minute conversations about what EF coaching entails and what’s happening that has you considering coaching as an option. You will not be pressured to make any decisions or commitments. But we’re already making decisions about scheduling and capacity for the fall, so if you’re interested in exploring this option, resist the urge to procrastinate. You can learn more at our website.

Have a great weekend!