Behaviors

The Four Functions of Behavior: A Practical Guide for Parents & Teachers

Imagine walking into a meeting with a specialist who promised they could explain why your neurodivergent teen or young adult learner behaved in specific ways. For some parents and teachers that might feel like winning the lottery! When the specialist begins, they state simply, “All human behavior, including your child’s, can be described by one … read more

Behaviors, Task Initiation

The Neuroscience of ADHD Self-Discipline: Why ADHD Makes it Hard and How to Make it Easier

Why is it that traditional advice like, “just try harder” or “stay focused” doesn’t seem to work for people with ADHD? If self-discipline feels like an elusive skill despite your best efforts, you’re not alone. The answer lies in your brain’s chemical makeup, where the drive to persevere and resist temptations is not as simple … read more

Task Initiation, Behaviors, Executive Functioning

Is My Teen Lazy? Strategies to Differentiate Between Laziness and Learning Differences

It’s easy to label a teenager as lazy when they consistently avoid schoolwork, chores, or other obligations. However, what may look like laziness could actually be a sign of something deeper, like a learning difference or an executive function challenge. Teens with executive functioning difficulties (often as a result of ADHD or other forms of … read more

Executive Functioning, Behaviors, Building Independence, Career Planning, Goal Setting

From School to Home: How to Promote Generalization of Executive Functioning Skills

How many times have you encountered a scenario like this with your neurodivergent child or student? You and your learner have worked for hours on teaching an executive functioning skill in the classroom–let’s say, using a visual timer for homework sessions. The student has steadily progressed towards independence and can now complete 30 minutes of … read more

Self-Determination, Behaviors, Building Independence, Goal Setting, Neurodivergent Experiences

The Difference Between Extrinsic and Intrinsic Motivation: Parent Guide

Here at Life Skills Advocate, we spend a lot of time thinking about goals and motivation. There’s a lot of misguided, mentalistic, and frankly–not at all helpful–information available to parents and educators about motivation, especially the difference between extrinsic and intrinsic motivation. To better understand these concepts, it’s essential to look at the classic definitions … read more

Attentional Control, Behaviors, EF 101 Series, Executive Functioning

Executive Functioning 101: All About Attentional Control

As of this writing, if you enter the search words “How to Focus Better” into Google, you’ll encounter about 6.2 billion results. In a world with so many distractions, we scramble to sustain our attention on what matters the most. If adults struggle with this skill, imagine how difficult it can be for learners with … read more

Impulse Control, Behaviors, EF 101 Series, Executive Functioning

Impulse Control: 5 Ways to Help Your Teen Succeed

Blurting out answers in the middle of class. Interrupting a meaningful conversation. Fighting with siblings. Fidgeting and talking during quiet work. What do all of these challenging behaviors have in common? They all relate back to impulse control. While we know that the teenage brain has a tendency to explore and examine the world in … read more

Impulse Control, Behaviors, EF 101 Series, Executive Functioning

Executive Functioning 101: All About Impulse Control

“But, I have to have it!” “I don’t care what you say. I’m going to do it anyway!” “You can’t stop me.” As parents and educators of individuals with unique learning needs, we know teens and young adults can struggle to control emotions and impulsive behavior. Statements like these only highlights what research tells us … read more

Emotional Control, Behaviors, EF 101 Series, Executive Functioning

Building Emotional Control: Strategies & Supports for Diverse Learners

Parents and educators of teenagers know how hard emotional control and regulation can be—especially for teens with unique learning needs. Diverse learners encounter unique challenges at home, school, and with friends and family. These challenges can mean emotional triggers can crop up at any time. That’s why building emotional control and emotional regulation in your … read more

Emotional Control, Behaviors, EF 101 Series, Executive Functioning

Stop, Think, Act: How to Practice Emotional Control Skills with Your Teen

Keep your cool. Don’t flip your lid. Don’t get bent out of shape. Get a grip. Going off the deep end. Hot under the collar. Steamed up. Hit a raw nerve. It’s not entirely clear why, but the English language has many different ways to describe emotional control—and situations where we don’t always do the … read more