All skill areas

Executive function

Available now

Many autistic children have intact intelligence but struggle with executive function — the mental skills for planning, switching tasks, holding multiple steps in mind, and managing time. Visual supports, external scaffolds, and chunking tasks make a huge difference here.

⚡ In Growingly

🎯 Skills by age

Early years

ages 4–5

  • Following a 2-step routine
  • Waiting briefly with support
  • Switching from preferred to non-preferred activity with warning
  • Remembering a simple instruction

School years

ages 6–8

  • Following a 4–5 step morning routine
  • Using a visual schedule
  • Planning a short activity (3 steps)
  • Tolerating unexpected changes with support

Pre-teen

ages 9–12

  • Managing homework time
  • Breaking large tasks into chunks
  • Self-monitoring during work
  • Adjusting plans when something changes
These skills are written in plain language for caregivers, drawn from established frameworks (ESDM, PEERS, AAIDD adaptive behavior). Every child develops uniquely — use this as a guide, not a checklist.