In this episode of the TiLT Parenting Podcast, I’m bringing back a previous guest, executive functioning coach Seth Perler, for a two-part series in which Seth shares with us the exact approach he uses with students he works with when helping them foster their fledgling executive functioning skills. 

I first had Seth on the show last fall, where he gave us an introduction to executive functioning, but we didn’t get to the more practical strategies that I know so many of us are looking for. So I asked Seth to come back on, and that conversation turned into an hour-and-a-half long sharing by Seth of truly valuable tips and strategies and insights. Because Seth shares so very much over the course of these ninety or so minutes, I wanted to split our conversation into two parts. So this episode is part one of what I’m now referring to as a “Masterclass in Executive Functioning.” In this episode, Seth shares with us his protocol for setting up a child for success in their developing executive functioning skills. In part 2 next week, Seth will go in-depth into his specific strategies surrounding building these skills in school and in life. 

Seth Perler is a renegade teacher turned Executive Function Coach/Education Coach who is based in Santa Monica, CA and Boulder, CO. He helps struggling students navigate a crazy educational landscape and does his part to “disrupt” and improve education. Seth specializes in Executive Function and 2e. Find out more at sethperler.com.

THINGS YOU’LL LEARN FROM THIS EPISODE:

• Seth’s definition of executive functioning framed so it helps people apply the principles to help kids
• A step-by-step breakdown of exactly how Seth works with families
• Why our relationship with our child is the number one thing to be preserved when doing this work
• The importance of parents doing their own personal work / self-care during this process
• Why kids “can’t do what we’re asking them to do because they can’t, not because they won’t,” so we need to back up and scaffold from where they’re at
• The role of mindfulness, mindset, and motivation
• Why symptoms are more important than labels
• Why it’s critical to understand the role of emotional regulation in executive functioning
• How we as parents can co-regulate our emotions with our child
• Why we want to focus on 3 positives for every 1 negative

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

• Seth Perler’s website
• A Conversation with Executive Functioning Coach Seth Perler (original podcast episode)
• Seth’s Executive Functioning Assessment
• Dr. Gail Saltz Talks About the Power of Different (podcast episode)
• Carol Dweck and Mindset

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