What Is Executive Functioning —and How Movement Helps Kids Build It

OT-designed floor sensory path installed in a school hallway featuring a purple PATIENT station with the instruction "Take your time, count and jump, then pause to regulate," followed by alternating black star-burst JUMP markers and purple pause symbol circles extending down the hallway, targeting inhibitory control, sequencing, and self-regulation.

If you have ever watched a child melt down because their routine changed, struggle to start a task without reminders, or completely fall apart when asked to wait their turn — you have seen executive functioning challenges in action.

And if you work with kids, you have probably seen it a lot.

Executive functioning is one of the most talked-about topics in education and pediatric therapy right now — and for good reason. These skills shape how children learn, behave, relate to others, and navigate daily life. But here is what most people do not know: movement is one of the most powerful tools we have to build them.

Let me explain.

What Is Executive Functioning?

Executive functioning is the term used to describe a set of mental skills that act like the brain's command center. They help children plan, focus, remember instructions, manage emotions, and adapt when things do not go as expected.

According to Harvard's Center on the Developing Child, the three core components of executive functioning are:

1. Working Memory

This is the ability to hold information in mind while using it. Think of it as the brain's mental sticky note. When a teacher gives three-step directions and a child can remember and follow all three — that is working memory at work. When they can only follow the first one and forget the rest, working memory is struggling.

2. Inhibitory Control

This is the ability to pause, think, and resist the urge to act impulsively. It is what helps a child wait their turn, stop themselves from blurting out an answer, or walk calmly down the hallway instead of running. Inhibitory control is deeply connected to emotional regulation.

3. Cognitive Flexibility

This is the ability to shift thinking, adapt to changes, and see things from a different perspective. It is what helps a child handle a schedule change without falling apart, or switch from one task to another without a meltdown.

These three skills do not work in isolation — they work together constantly, in almost every moment of the school day.

Why Are So Many Kids Struggling With Executive Functioning?

This is the question educators and therapists are asking more than ever — and the answer is complex.

We know that executive functioning develops primarily in the prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain responsible for reasoning, planning, and self-regulation. This area of the brain continues developing all the way into a person's mid-twenties — which means children are quite literally still building the hardware they need.

We also know that children with ADHD, autism, sensory processing disorder, anxiety, trauma histories, and other neurodevelopmental differences often experience significant executive functioning challenges. These are not behavior problems. They are neurological differences that deserve a neurological response.

But here is the piece that often gets missed: executive functioning is not fixed. It can be built, strengthened, and supported — especially in childhood, when the brain is most plastic and responsive to intervention.

And one of the most effective ways to do that? Movement.

How Movement Builds Executive Functioning

Research consistently shows that purposeful, cognitively engaging physical movement improves executive functioning in children. A 2025 meta-analysis published in Frontiers in Human Neuroscience found that exercise interventions — particularly those that combine movement with cognitive demands — significantly improve core executive functions including working memory, inhibitory control, and cognitive flexibility in children and adolescents.

A separate systematic review published in Frontiers in Psychology found that school-based physical activity programs that balance physical intensity with cognitive and emotional engagement are especially effective for building executive function skills.

In other words, it is not just any movement that helps. It is intentional, structured, cognitively rich movement — the kind that asks the brain and body to work together at the same time.

Here is why that works so well:

Movement activates the prefrontal cortex.

The same part of the brain responsible for executive functioning lights up during purposeful physical activity. Movement essentially warms up the command center.

Sequenced movement builds working memory.

When a child follows a series of movement activities in a specific order — hop here, balance there, reach up, push down — they are actively practicing holding a sequence in mind and executing it. That is working memory training in disguise.

Motor planning strengthens cognitive flexibility.

Navigating a movement path requires the brain to plan, adjust, and respond to new information in real time. Every twist, jump, and balance challenge is a mini lesson in flexible thinking.

Proprioceptive and vestibular input regulate the nervous system.

When the sensory system is regulated, the brain has far greater access to its executive functioning resources. A dysregulated nervous system simply cannot plan, focus, or manage impulses effectively. Movement — especially heavy work and balance activities — brings the nervous system into a state where executive functioning is possible.

Routine movement builds inhibitory control.

Following the rules of a movement path — stay on the footprints, do the activity before moving on, wait at each station — is practice in impulse control, every single time a child walks through it.

What This Looks Like in a School Hallway

This is where Sacred Steps Sensory Paths come in.

A well-designed sensory path is not decoration. It is a therapeutic movement tool that targets executive functioning every time a child walks through it.

When a student approaches a Sacred Steps path, they are:

•       Reading and processing the activity at each station (working memory)

•       Sequencing their movements from station to station in order (motor planning + working memory)

•       Regulating their body through proprioceptive and vestibular input (nervous system regulation)

•       Following movement rules at each station (inhibitory control)

•       Transitioning between different activity types (cognitive flexibility)

•       Arriving at their destination calmer, more focused, and more ready to learn

And when faith-based affirmations are woven into those stations — words like "I am brave," "I am loved," "I am God's child" — there is an added layer of identity formation and emotional grounding that supports the whole child.

What Teachers and Staff Can Do Right Now

You do not need a full sensory path to start supporting executive functioning through movement. Here are a few simple strategies:

Build in transition movement.

Use the hallway walk between activities as an intentional opportunity. Give students a movement challenge: walk like a tightrope walker, stomp like an elephant, touch every doorframe with your left hand. These small tasks engage the prefrontal cortex before students sit back down.

Create predictable movement routines.

Predictability builds executive functioning. When students know that every morning starts with three minutes of movement before they sit down, their nervous systems begin to anticipate and prepare. Routine is regulation.

Use movement as a reset, not a reward.

Movement breaks should not be something students earn — they should be something students receive, especially when they are struggling. A two-minute movement break mid-lesson can restore the executive functioning resources that sitting and focusing have depleted.

Add sensory input before demanding tasks.

Heavy work (pushing, pulling, carrying, pressing) before a writing task, a test, or a transition can dramatically improve a child's ability to focus, plan, and self-regulate.

Invest in a permanent movement tool in your hallway.

A sensory path gives every child who walks your hallway access to the therapeutic movement input their brain needs — without pulling a single student from class, without requiring a therapist to be present, and without adding a single thing to your teacher's plate.

The Bottom Line

Executive functioning is not a fixed trait. It is a set of skills — and like all skills, it can be built.

Movement is not a break from learning. It is one of the most evidence-based, neurologically sound ways to prepare a child's brain for the learning that comes next.

When we put intentional, therapeutic movement in a child's path — literally in the hallway they walk every day — we are not just giving them something fun to do. We are giving their brains exactly what they need to focus, regulate, plan, and succeed.

That is what Sacred Steps is all about. 🙏💛

Interested in bringing a Sacred Steps Sensory Path to your school? Browse our full collection at sacredstepssensorypaths.com or reach out at hello@sacredstepssensorypaths.com — we would love to help.

What Is a Sensory Pathway for Schools? Benefits, Examples, and Ideas

If you've heard the term "sensory pathway" but aren't exactly sure what it means, you're not alone.

Over the past several years, sensory pathways have become increasingly popular in schools, therapy clinics, libraries, hospitals, and community spaces. But many educators and administrators are still wondering:

What is a sensory pathway, and why are so many schools adding them?

As a school-based occupational therapist, I'd love to help answer that question.

What Is a Sensory Pathway?

A sensory pathway is a series of movement-based activities installed on a floor, wall, or other designated area that encourages children to move their bodies in purposeful ways.

Students might:

• Hop

• Jump

• Balance

• Stretch

• March

• Cross midline

• Trace shapes

• Practice deep breathing

• Complete gross motor challenges

The goal is simple: provide structured movement opportunities that help students regulate their bodies and prepare for learning.

Many sensory pathways are installed in school hallways, allowing students to use them during transitions throughout the day.

Sensory pathway for schools in Catholic elementary school hallway; https://www.sacredstepssensorypaths.com/store/p/bible-stories-sensory-path

Why Do Schools Use Sensory Pathways?

Movement plays a critical role in a child's ability to focus, regulate emotions, and participate successfully in the classroom.

When students are struggling with attention, self-regulation, anxiety, impulsivity, or transitions, a brief movement break can make a significant difference.

Schools often use sensory pathways to support:

Student Regulation

Sensory pathways provide students with opportunities to move their bodies in ways that help them feel more organized, calm, and ready to learn.

Executive Functioning Skills

Many pathways include activities that encourage students to follow directions, sequence movements, maintain attention, and practice self-control.

Positive Transitions

Transitions can be challenging for many students. Sensory pathways create a structured and engaging way for students to move from one activity to another.

Indoor Movement Opportunities

Weather doesn't always cooperate. Sensory pathways give students a way to move throughout the day, even when outdoor activities aren't possible.

Inclusive Support

One of the best things about sensory pathways is that they benefit all students. While they can be particularly helpful for students with ADHD, anxiety, autism, sensory processing differences, or executive functioning challenges, every child can benefit from purposeful movement.

Where Are Sensory Pathways Installed?

One of the reasons sensory pathways have become so popular is their flexibility.

Schools are installing sensory pathways in:

• Hallways

• Libraries

• Counseling offices

• Calming corners

• Early childhood wings

• Resource rooms

• Common areas

• Church and parish spaces

Many schools also incorporate wall-based sensory activities when floor space is limited. Other schools choose portable sensory paths that can be rolled out when needed and stored away when space is limited.

Limited floor space? A wall sensory path is the perfect solution. https://www.sacredstepssensorypaths.com/store/p/beatitudes-blessings-wall-sensory-path

Examples of Sensory Pathway Activities

Every sensory pathway is unique, but common activities include:

• Animal walks

• Hopping patterns

• Balance challenges

• Cross-body movements

• Deep breathing exercises

• Visual tracking activities

• Gross motor sequences

• Mindfulness prompts

These activities encourage students to move in ways that support both physical and cognitive development.

What Makes Faith-Based Sensory Pathways Different?

While many sensory pathways focus solely on movement, some schools are looking for ways to combine movement with meaningful learning opportunities.

This is especially true in Catholic and Christian schools.

Faith-based sensory pathways allow students to engage with:

• Bible stories

• Scripture

• Catholic virtues

• The Sacraments

• Prayer

• Religious education concepts

At Sacred Steps, some of our most popular faith-based options include the Bible Stories Sensory Path, the Who God Says I Am Path, and the Sacred Sacraments Path, each designed to combine purposeful movement with meaningful faith formation.

As students move through the activities, they are not only supporting regulation and focus but also reinforcing their faith in a way that feels active, engaging, and memorable.

How Sacred Steps Sensory Paths Are Different

As both a school-based occupational therapist and a Catholic business owner, I wanted to create something that supported the whole child.

That's why Sacred Steps combines purposeful movement with faith formation.

Our sensory pathways help students:

• Regulate their bodies

• Improve focus and attention

• Strengthen executive functioning skills

• Support positive behavior

• Reinforce Catholic identity

• Engage with Scripture and faith-based concepts

To our knowledge, Sacred Steps remains the only faith-based sensory path company specifically designed for Catholic and Christian schools.

Is a Sensory Pathway Right for Your School?

If your school is looking for ways to:

• Support student regulation

• Improve transitions

• Encourage movement throughout the day

• Create more purposeful learning spaces

• Strengthen Catholic identity

A sensory pathway may be an excellent fit.

The best part? Many schools already have the perfect space.

An empty hallway.

A blank wall.

A transition area that could become something more.

Schools often begin with a full hallway path, a portable path, or even a smaller starter set before expanding over time.

Sometimes the most impactful school improvement projects don't require additional space—just a new way of thinking about the space you already have.

If you're interested in exploring what a sensory pathway could look like in your school, I'd be happy to create a complimentary mockup using photos of your space. You can explore our faith-based sensory paths, portable paths, and starter sets here: https://www.sacredstepssensorypaths.com/