- By Isaac
- Van Wesep
Goal! Let’s Plan to Play
This article is part of our weekly series Executive Function Tips for Families.
What is Executive Function?
Executive function (EF) refers to a set of mental skills that includes working memory, inhibitory control, and cognitive flexibility. These skills are essential for planning, focusing, and managing multiple tasks. By building EF skills early, we set children up for long-term learning success. Read on to find out how this game supports EF skill development.
We Can Accomplish Anything We Put Our Minds To
Are you looking for an engaging way to help your child better set and achieve their goals? Today, we will give your child the opportunity to think about their interests, practice planning, and stay focused on a goal. Our only goal is to have some fun! In this motivational activity, your child will think about what they want to do during the day. They will write or draw a goal for the day and a plan for how they will meet it. Once they make their plan, they will work to follow and reach their goals. This will allow your child to practice a big part of Executive Function: being goal-oriented!
This Activity Builds the Following EF Skills:
- Impulse Control: Your child will need to set goals and plan to stick to them.
- Working memory: After accomplishing a goal, your child will need to be able to remember the next goal they set for themselves.
- Cognitive Flexibility: Your child will need to switch from one goal to the next.
What You’ll Need
- Duration: 5 to 15 minutes
- Environment: You can do this activity anywhere in your home!
- Materials:
- Notebook or Paper
- Crayons, Colored Pencils, or Markers
- Images that represent your child’s daily schedule/activities
Ready To Achieve? Activity Levels and Step-by-Step Instructions:
This activity is best suited for individual play. Choose the starting level based on your child’s age and be sure to give them enough time to think.If a level seems too easy or difficult, then adjust as needed. You can move up or down a level at any time! Check out Executive Function Stages and Ages for more information on your child’s cognitive development.
Activity Level 1 – Picture Choice (2-3 years)
- Using printable picture cards from the internet, magazine cut outs, or simple picture drawings, prepare two pictures of activities to choose from. We will be using blocks and playdough as our example activities.
- Tell your child:
- “Today we are going to make a plan about what we are going to play! Do you want to play Blocks [hold up picture of blocks] or playdough [hold up picture of playdough]?”
- When your child picks a picture, start the activity right away.
- Tell your child:
- “You picked the picture of the blocks, so we are going to play blocks! Thank you for telling me the plan!”
Activity Level 2 – Picture Schedule (3-4 years)
- Prepare 4-7 pictures of activities for your child to choose from. The pictures should be activities like lunch, brushing teeth, drawing, puzzles, etc.
- Discuss important parts of the day, like lunchtime, and other times for activities like going for a walk or playing outside.
- Use the pictures to create an ordered schedule for the day with your child.
- Tell your child:
- “Let’s make a plan for what we are going to do today! I have pictures of different things we can do. Some things we have to do today- you have to eat lunch so you do not get hungry- and some you can choose to do! You are going to help me put them in order so we know what we need to do next. You get to decide on the plan.”
Activity Level 3 – Plan One Play Goal (4-5 years)
- Give your child a notebook or paper to write on.
- Tell your child:
- “We are going to make plans and set a goal today! Let’s think about our day. For example, after lunch, we’re going to do an activity! Think about the special things you like to do. Pick one to do today. That will be our goal.”
- You can give your child examples such as play with blocks, take a walk, draw, etc.
- Have them draw or write their plan in their notebook paper.
- Do the activity and then return their notebook. Ask your child if they met their goal for the day.
Activity Level 4 – Academic Plan (5+ years)
- First, follow Activity Level 3 instructions.
- Ask your child how it felt to follow their plan and meet their goal.
- Have them use the activity they chose to plan another activity for more learning and achievement.
- For example: If your child chose to build a tower with blocks, they might plan to count all the blocks they used in the tower. If your child chose to take a walk, they might write or draw a plan for where they would like to walk the next time.
Talk & Reflect
Once you are done, ask your child questions like:
- “What was your favorite part of your play plan today?
- “When is another time you might make a plan and set a goal?”
Asking these questions will help them reflect on their interests and consider when they can strive towards achievement in their daily lives. This helps them improve their self-awareness and confidence when planning.
Additional Ideas & Resources
- You can find printable pictures for this activity here.
- Play Who is Miss Mary Mack? to continue working on cognitive flexibility and working memory with your child.
