

The Balance Between Transitions, Expectations, and Executive Function | David Baker
Why can a bright, capable child manage well for years and then suddenly struggle in middle school, high school, or college? Executive function challenges rarely appear out of nowhere. As academic demands increase and outside structure decreases, weaknesses in planning, organization, task initiation, time management, working memory, and emotional regulation can become much more visible. In this episode of Executive Function for All, Brandon Slade speaks with Dr. David Baker, a board-certified pediatric neuropsychologist and founder of Baker Neuropsychology and Learning Center. Dr. Baker explains why school transitions can reveal executive function challenges that were previously difficult to see and how parents can support independence without taking over. They also discuss: • Why bright kids can have uneven skill development • How ADHD can affect brain development • How frustration and unstructured play build self-regulation • What college students need when external structure falls away • How parents can model healthy responses to stress • What families should know about neuropsychological evaluations At Untapped Learning, we help middle school, high school, and college students build practical executive function skills through personalized coaching focused on planning, organization, task initiation, time management, and long-term independence. Learn more about Dr. Baker: https://bakernlc.com/ Want to learn more about how we support students? 🌐 https://untappedlearning.com/ 📥 https://untappedlearning.com/resource-type/downloads/ 📸 https://instagram.com/untappedlearning #ExecutiveFunction #ADHD #ADHDParenting #ExecutiveFunctionCoaching #StudentSupport Chapters: 0:37 – Do Executive Function Challenges Appear Out of Nowhere? 3:18 – Building Executive Function in Elementary School 4:34 – Screens, Emotional Regulation, and Executive Function 6:20 – Building Executive Function in Middle and High School 8:41 – The “Should” Mentality: Intelligence vs. Executive Function 10:12 – ADHD Brain Development: Is It Years Behind? 13:11 – Supporting Executive Function in College 14:14 – Why Overscheduling Hurts College Readiness 18:59 – The Neuroscience of Unstructured Play 22:06 - IS ADHD Hereditary? 22:55 – Advice for Overwhelmed Parents 24:31 – Teens Watch How Parents Handle Stress 26:39 – Scaffolding Executive Function at Home 27:45 – Why “Clean Your Room” Is Too Vague 30:53 – What to Know Before a Neuropsychological Evaluation 34:28 – Connect With Dr. David Baker


















