Why Kids Who Ace Individual Tasks Struggle in Group Work - Part 1

You know that kid. The one who absolutely crushes it during your one-on-one sessions—focused, creative, executing tasks like a champ. Then their teacher sends that dreaded email: "During group work today, they completely shut down."

I used to think this was just social anxiety. Maybe distraction from chatty classmates. Turns out, I was missing something huge.

The Executive Function Plot Twist

Executive function demands don't just increase in social settings. They explode.

Picture this: your kiddo working alone manages maybe 3-4 cognitive processes. Throw them into a group? Suddenly they're juggling 8-12 different mental tasks simultaneously.

Their brain goes from a quiet library to Times Square on New Year's Eve. Same kid, completely different cognitive environment.

The Breaking Point Most People Miss

I call this phenomenon "social executive function load," and most kids max out around 2-3 peers. Add a fourth person? Even neurotypical students start looking like they have ADHD.

Your phone slows down when too many apps are running. Same thing happens in your kiddo's brain during group work.

Why Standard Assessments Fall Short

A child can score perfectly on working memory tests and nail cognitive flexibility tasks in quiet, controlled environments. But coordination with classmates? Total system overload.

This explains why those beautiful gains from individual therapy sessions seem to vanish in real classroom settings. We're not assessing the executive functions kids actually need in social contexts.

What This Changes for Your Practice

If you're working with a kiddo who shows this pattern, you're not imagining things. Their struggles in group settings aren't evidence that your individual work isn't effective.

They need specific support for social executive function skills. And yes, these skills can absolutely be taught and strengthened.

Three Quick Wins to Try Tomorrow

Start with pairs. Master the 2-person dynamic before adding complexity. Think training wheels, not mountain trails.

Make the invisible visible. Reading the room and managing multiple people's input aren't "soft skills"—they're executive function skills in disguise.

Build in reset moments. Structured pauses during group work let overloaded systems reboot. Even 30 seconds works magic.

The Real Game Changer

Your kiddo isn't being difficult during group work. They're dealing with cognitive demands that would challenge most adults.

Once we recognize social executive function as a complex, trainable skill set, we can actually do something about it.