Executive Functions Skill: Metacognition

Executive functions (EF) skills are skills required to help perform or accomplish everyday life tasks.  These skills are controlled by the frontal lobe of the brain just behind the forehead.  The frontal lobes are the last areas of the brain to fully develop. Executive functions skills begin to develop in infancy and continue to mature into early adulthood.

Metacognition is the executive functions skill that helps you “think about your thinking” and “learn about your learning”.  It is the ability to self-monitor when performing a task (e.g., doing a math problem, cleaning up after yourself, learning something new).

When a teen has difficulties with metacognition, it may be hard for them to:

•notice careless mistakes
•realize if their behavior is or isn’t acceptable
•adjust their behavior if told that it isn’t appropriate
•think abstractly
•difficult to problem solve
•plan
•be aware of their own thinking
•know how they learn best