How to Use Spring Break to Boost Your Child’s Executive Functioning Skills

Spring break is a welcome break from the routine of school, but it’s also a great opportunity for parents to help their children develop important life skills. For children with ADHD or executive functioning (EF) challenges, the break can be used as a time to build skills such as time management, organization, self-regulation, and decision-making—all crucial abilities that will help them navigate school, social interactions, and future careers.

In this blog, we’ll dive into how you can incorporate fun spring break activities that teach and strengthen your child’s executive functioning skills, while also giving them the flexibility and freedom they crave. Whether you have a teenager who struggles with planning or a young adult learning the ropes of budgeting, these strategies will help them develop skills that last well beyond spring break.

What Are Executive Functioning Skills?

Executive functioning skills are cognitive processes that help individuals manage their thoughts, actions, and emotions to achieve goals. These skills are critical for navigating school, work, and social interactions. For children with ADHD, these skills can be especially challenging, as they may struggle with impulse control, organization, time management, and planning.

Here are some key EF skills that impact daily life:

1. Time Management: The ability to estimate time, prioritize tasks, and meet deadlines.

2. Impulse Control: The ability to think before acting and resist distractions.

3. Problem-Solving: The ability to identify problems and come up with solutions.

4. Organization: The ability to keep track of materials, plans, and schedules.

5. Self-Regulation: The ability to manage emotions and stay focused on tasks despite distractions.

Why Spring Break is the Perfect Opportunity

Spring break is a great time to build executive functioning skills because it offers a break from the usual school pressures. The relaxed schedule can be used to teach new skills without the added stress of homework, tests, and grades. However, it’s important to maintain a balance between fun and learning during this time. By incorporating structured activities that also allow for flexibility, parents can help their children work on executive functioning while still having a good time.

1. Time Management: Plan a Fun Outing Together

One of the key executive functioning skills is time management, which is often a challenge for children with ADHD. Estimating how long tasks will take, staying on schedule, and managing time effectively are all part of this skill. Spring break is a perfect opportunity to help your child practice time management through activities like planning a day trip or outing with friends or family.

How to Do It:

• Sit down with your child and choose an outing, like a trip to the beach, a visit to a movie theater, or a day at the mall.

• Involve your child in the planning process: Ask them to map out the day. This includes deciding:

  • Who to invite

  • How to invite them

  • What time to meet

  • What activities to do

  • How long each activity will take

  • When to wrap up the outing

• Encourage them to estimate time for each part of the outing. This can be a valuable way to help your child develop a sense of how long things actually take, which is key for building time management skills.

By the end of the day, your child will have learned how to break down activities, plan a schedule, and be responsible for managing time during the outing. This helps them gain a better understanding of how time works and how to budget it for various tasks.

2. Organizational Skills: Start a Meaningful Project

Another important executive function skill is organization. Whether it's keeping their room tidy or staying on top of school assignments, organization plays a huge role in academic success and daily life. Spring break provides a chance for your child to take on a personal project that teaches them how to plan, organize, and break down larger tasks into manageable steps.

How to Do It:

• Encourage your child to choose a project they’re interested in, such as:

  • Learning a new skill (like cooking or photography)

  • Redecorating their room

  • Organizing their personal space or belongings

  • Planning and executing a craft project or DIY activity

• Help them break down the project into smaller steps:

  • What supplies will they need?

  • Who can help them with specific tasks?

  • What is the timeline for completing each part of the project?

  • What are the mini-goals that need to be met along the way?

For children with ADHD, breaking down a project into smaller, achievable steps can help them feel more in control and prevent overwhelm. Encourage them to set a timeline and check in on their progress to make sure they stay on track. By giving your child ownership of the project and stepping in when needed, you’re teaching them valuable organizational skills that will benefit them throughout their life.

3. Budgeting and Financial Responsibility: Teach Decision-Making Skills

One of the most important aspects of self-regulation is the ability to manage money and make thoughtful decisions about spending. For teens and young adults, spring break is the perfect time to introduce concepts like budgeting, saving, and decision-making. Managing a small budget and tracking spending can teach children how to make responsible choices, avoid impulsive purchases, and think about their financial future.

How to Do It:

• Give your child a small allowance or earnings for the week, based on the activities you plan to do together or their own personal savings.

• Discuss what you will and won’t cover, such as gas, meals, or social activities with friends. Be specific about what they need to budget for and make sure they understand the boundaries.

• Help them decide how to prioritize spending: For example, ask questions like, “Do you want to spend all your money on this one outing, or save some for later in the week? What would happen if you spent it all now?”

• Encourage them to track their spending—whether with an app, notebook, or by checking their bank account.

This exercise in budgeting will help your child practice delayed gratification, making thoughtful decisions about their spending, and developing the impulse control needed to manage money wisely.

4. Self-Regulation: Practice Delayed Gratification and Problem-Solving

Self-regulation is critical for children with ADHD, who often struggle with staying focused, controlling impulses, and managing emotions. Spring break offers a great chance to practice these skills in a low-stress environment. Whether it’s working on a project, planning an outing, or managing a budget, each of these activities requires self-control, planning, and the ability to make decisions.

How to Do It:

• Encourage your child to take breaks and manage frustration if things aren’t going as planned.

• If they encounter problems (e.g., a delayed trip or unexpected cost), guide them through problem-solving to find a solution, helping them think through options and make the best decision.

Through these experiences, your child will practice self-regulation by managing their emotions, making thoughtful decisions, and learning how to bounce back from setbacks.

5. Flexibility: Keep a Balance Between Structure and Fun

Although structure is important, spring break is also about fun and relaxation. Too much rigidity can lead to burnout and frustration, especially for children who need flexibility. Incorporating both structured activities (like the ones mentioned above) and free time can help your child learn how to navigate responsibilities while still enjoying their break.

How to Do It:

• Set a loose schedule that includes fun activities as well as productive tasks.

• Allow your child to have time to relax, socialize, or explore personal hobbies while still integrating EF-building exercises.

The goal is to teach your child how to balance fun with responsibility—an essential life skill that will help them navigate school, work, and life as they grow older.

Conclusion

Spring break is a great time to help your child develop key executive functioning skills in a relaxed, flexible setting. By focusing on activities that build time management, organizational skills, budgeting, and self-regulation, you’re giving your child the tools they need to succeed not just in school but in life. With a bit of planning, structure, and fun, you can make this spring break a learning experience that lasts well beyond the break itself.

By incorporating these strategies, you’ll be setting your child up for success, helping them build confidence and skills that they can carry forward into the final months of the school year and beyond.

Additional Resources 

For more insight into how executive functioning skills impact children with ADHD, check out this research article from the National Institute of Health: Executive Functioning and ADHD: Implications for Practice. It highlights the importance of developing these skills early and offers strategies for parents and educators.