How Speech Supports Executive Functioning in Children

Do you ever wonder why certain children who display remarkable skills in one area exhibit difficulties with performing routine tasks like brushing teeth or putting away toys? This might possibly be due to delays with what we call executive functioning skills (EF), and understanding how speech supports executive functioning in children can offer helpful insight.

Executive functioning skills are a set of abilities that are necessary for a child to manage himself in an organized manner to reach a particular goal. We do not know the order in which each EF skill develops (Gibb et al., 2021). However, it is apparent that these processes impact and influence almost every area of a child’s life including communication. Executive functioning and language skills appear very early on in a child’s development (Kapa & Erikson, 2020). These two areas work together in ways that are mutually beneficial. Therefore, strengthening your child’s language skills will have a positive impact on his executive functioning skills and vice versa.

Key Executive Functioning Skills Explained

Refer below for a brief description of each skill:

Attentional Control: ability to shift and regulate focus.
Working Memory: allows for the temporary storage and retrieval of memory to perform a task.
Inhibition: ability to control urges and impulses.
Cognitive Shifting: ability to change course or adapt according to new demands.
Planning: ability to choose specific actions to reach a goal.

Toddler playing with colored blocks while learning to match and associate colors—supporting speech and executive functioning skills.

Everyday Activities to Support Speech and Executive Functioning

You can work with your child to target both executive functioning skills and communication using the following activities:

Toddlers (0-2 years)

Work on getting your child to hum or sing along to nursery rhymes and songs.
Play peek-a-boo and pat-a-cake.
Engage your child in play using cause and effect toys (e.g., rattles, pop-up toys, music toys).
Teach your child how to imitate your actions (e.g., clapping, blowing a kiss, smiling).
Work on saying animal sounds (e.g., moo, baa, neigh).

Preschoolers (3-5 years)

Help your child sort cards by color and shape
Present an enticing treat to your child but have him wait to eat it
Practice turn-taking and sharing toys
Copy and build a structure using blocks
Work on getting your child to name the opposite given a picture (e.g., what is the opposite of big? tell me the opposite of happy)
Have your child work on a simple art project or other types of construction activities (e.g., building a cardboard house) with a peer

When to Seek Support for Speech or Executive Functioning Concerns

All children develop at their own pace, but sometimes delays in communication or self-management skills can signal the need for extra support. You may notice your child has difficulty following simple directions, switching between tasks, or expressing their needs clearly. These can be early signs of challenges in speech or executive functioning.

Here are a few examples of red flags to watch for:

Trouble paying attention during short activities or stories
Difficulty remembering simple steps (like getting dressed or cleaning up)
Strong emotional reactions when asked to stop or change an activity
Limited use of words or gestures to communicate by age 2
Struggles with turn-taking or problem-solving during play

If any of these behaviors feel familiar, you’re not alone—and support is available. A speech-language pathologist or behavioral therapist can assess your child’s needs and offer strategies tailored to their development.

Final Thoughts

The development of language and executive functioning skills are deeply connected. By targeting one of these domains, you will also be stimulating and nurturing the other. As a result, engaging in these simple activities will help your child grow in the areas of language and executive function.

Have questions or need personalized support? Connect with our team to learn how we can help your child build strong communication and self-regulation skills.

References:

Gibb, R., Coelho, L., Van Rootselaar, N. A., Halliwell, C., MacKinnon, M., Plomp, I., & R. Gonzalez, C. L. (2021, December 29). Promoting Executive Function Skills in Preschoolers Using a Play-Based Program. PubMed Central (PMC). https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.720225

Kapa, L. L., & Erikson, J. A. (2020, July 17). The Relationship Between Word Learning and Executive Function in Preschoolers With and Without Developmental Language Disorder. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 63(7), 2293–2307. https://doi.org/10.1044/2020_jslhr-19-00342