From Overwhelmed to On Track: Helping Teens Build Executive Function Skills
Planning assignments, managing time, remembering deadlines and keeping track of belongings may seem straightforward, but these tasks rely on complex executive function skills that continue developing throughout adolescence. When these skills are still emerging, teenagers may appear disorganised, unmotivated or forgetful—even when they are trying hard. From an occupational therapy perspective, the goal is not simply to tell teens to “be more organised”, but to provide practical systems that make planning, time management and organisation more visible and manageable. This blog explores how families, educators and occupational therapists can help teenagers develop strategies that support greater confidence, independence and participation.
