Hard tasks are essential to executive functioning
Difficult tasks are essential to developing executive functioning in adolescents. Complex multi step tasks challenge and exercise core functioning skills in the brain. Think of it like kettle bell training for the brain. It's important for us to encourage and support adolescents through tasks that might be overwhelming or beyond their comfort level. Not only does this help them build confidence to embrace and tackle situations that may be uncomfortable for them, it helps form new neural pathways. When we, as humans, experience something difficult the brain takes note and says, “ hey I’m going to need this information for the future.” A new neural pathway is formed, while pruning old, easy pathways.
This helps the brain in three ways:
Working Memory:Tackling difficult tasks requires you to hold multi-step pieces of information. You are required to remember and problem solve in the moment. This is helpful because this trains your brain to coordinate multiple part information and focus on complex goals.
Flexible Thinking: Difficult tasks often require to see things from multiple perspectives and problem solve in the moment and then adapt if your approach fails.(Adapting to failure is essential to success.”We fall, get up and go back to the drawing board.”) This is often true when learning something new. This is helpful because, developing an “adapting, don’t quit” mentality allows the brain to focus on the big picture, becoming discouraged less easily, adapting to necessary changes and real-time problem solving.
Self-Control: Difficult tasks require you to persevere through boredom and distraction. This is helpful because it delays the need for immediate gratification and pushes the individual to persist through struggles building self-control.
Just as we do strength training for our muscles, the brain needs the same. Practice and repetition, overcoming the overwhelming and consistently engaging in cognitively complex activities (like learning a new language) are all part of the strength training to support strong, resilient adolescents (and adult) brains.
—Lisa McKenzie, Farm School KC Guide