Executive Functioning (EF) skills are gaining a lot of buzz right now because research has shown that they are really the gatekeeper to a child reaching their full potential. Even the brightest, most creative, deeply curious children will struggle to thrive without strong EF skills. These are the “command center” of the brain—the mental tools that help kids focus, plan, organize, shift gears, manage emotions, and follow through. They turn ability into action.

Researchers commonly identify 12 core executive functioning skills, including:

Working memory, Inhibitory control, Cognitive flexibility, Planning, Organization, Task initiation, Time management, Sustained attention, Goal-directed behavior, Emotional regulation, Response inhibition, and Self-monitoring

Additionally, based on our work with families, Bright Kids Co. adds three essential skills that parents consistently need support with, which include self-awareness + social-emotional insight (EQ); frustration tolerance; and independent follow-through.

Together, these skills allow a child to manage everyday demands, make good decisions, stay focused, regulate emotions, and translate their intelligence into real-world success—in school and in life.

Even the smartest kids struggle if their executive functioning lags behind their thinking. The good news: these skills can be taught, strengthened, and nurtured, and that’s exactly what we help parents do.

Join the Bright Kids Co. membership to learn how to build these skills at home with research-backed tools, kid-friendly strategies, and ongoing support from experts who understand bright, intense, curious learners.

Source: Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University; Adele Diamond, developmental neuroscience research on executive functioning.

A child can have strong reasoning and intelligence while still lagging in executive functioning. Many bright or curious learners understand concepts quickly but struggle with planning, time management, task initiation, or emotional regulation. Intelligence and EF develop on different timelines.
Source: Research on asynchronous development in gifted and high-ability learners (Silverman; NAGC).
If this sounds familiar, our Bright Kids Co. membership provides strategies to help children strengthen EF skills without shame or frustration.

Common signs include difficulty starting tasks, losing materials, emotional outbursts, procrastination, forgetfulness, trouble transitioning, avoiding challenging work, or getting easily overwhelmed. These behaviors are not laziness—they are indicators that EF skills are still developing.
Source: American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines on behavior and self-regulation.
Parents in the Bright Kids Co. membership learn how to interpret these behaviors and support children with simple, effective, research-backed strategies.

Yes. Executive functioning grows through practice, modeling, and supportive environments. Skills like planning, flexible thinking, organization, and emotional regulation can be strengthened with consistent routines, visual supports, scaffolding, and coaching.
Source: Harvard University’s Center on the Developing Child (Executive Function & Self-Regulation research).
Inside Bright Kids Co., we teach parents how to nurture EF growth with everyday strategies that work for toddlers through teens.

Very. Research shows that EF skills develop at different rates depending on temperament, environment, stress, neurotype, and age. Many children—gifted, twice-exceptional, neurodivergent, and neurotypical—experience EF delays or inconsistencies.
Source: Child Development Research (Diamond, 2013).
Our Bright Kids Co. membership helps parents understand what’s typical, what’s not, and how to support children through all stages of EF development.

Yes—executive functioning skills can give children a meaningful and lasting edge, academically and in life. While intelligence, creativity, and curiosity matter, it’s a child’s ability to focus, plan, adapt, manage emotions, stay organized, and follow through that determines how far their potential will take them. These skills are linked to stronger academic outcomes, healthier relationships, better decision-making, and greater long-term wellbeing.

Researchers at Harvard’s Center on the Developing Child describe executive functioning as the foundation for successful learning and social behavior. Children who develop these skills early are more resilient, more adaptable, and better equipped to handle challenges—qualities that benefit every child, regardless of background or ability level.

And here’s the most important part:
Executive functioning isn’t fixed. It can be taught, strengthened, and supported at home.

This is where Bright Kids Co. comes in.
Our membership gives parents practical, research-backed tools to build EF skills in everyday moments—helping children gain confidence, reduce frustration, and tap into their full potential. When families understand how EF works, they can give their child the kind of “edge” that lasts far longer than grades or test scores.

Source: Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University; Adele Diamond, developmental neuroscience research on executive functioning.

Most of the time, no.
Even though executive functioning skills are some of the strongest predictors of academic success, resilience, motivation, and long-term wellbeing, they are rarely taught directly in schools. Teachers are expected to manage behavior and performance, but most receive little to no formal training in how to teach planning, organization, emotional regulation, or task initiation.

Research from the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University shows that EF skills are foundational for learning—yet development varies widely, and children need explicit coaching and practice to strengthen them. Studies in educational psychology (Diamond, 2013) confirm that EF skills do not automatically grow with age or intelligence. Children need modeling, structure, and intentional support.

That’s why so many bright kids struggle, even when the academics seem easy.

And this is exactly why Bright Kids Co. exists.
We teach parents how to build EF skills at home with simple routines, research-backed strategies, and kid-friendly tools—because these skills determine whether a child’s potential becomes performance.

Source: Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University; Adele Diamond, Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience (2013).