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 Are Your Hallways Teaching?

When we think about teaching, we naturally think about classrooms.

We think about lesson plans, curriculum, small groups, and instructional strategies.

But lately I've been asking a different question:

What are our hallways teaching?

Students spend hundreds of hours each year moving through hallways.

They walk to lunch.

They transition between classes.

They head to specials.

They travel to the library, gym, and office.

Those moments may seem small, but they add up.

And every space in a school sends a message.

The Hidden Curriculum of School Spaces

Whether we realize it or not, our physical environments are constantly teaching.

Classrooms teach academic content.

Libraries teach a love of reading.

Playgrounds teach cooperation and social skills.

But what about hallways?

For many schools, hallways are simply spaces students move through as quickly as possible.

But what if they could do more?

What if hallways became opportunities to reinforce the very lessons we want students to carry with them every day?

Hallways That Teach Character

Imagine students encountering messages about:

• Kindness

• Respect

• Perseverance

• Gratitude

• Responsibility

• Courage

Not once during a special assembly.

Not once during a character education lesson.

Every single day.

The power of repetition matters.

The messages students see repeatedly often become the messages they remember.

Hallways That Teach Self-Regulation

As a school-based occupational therapist, I know that many students need movement in order to learn.

Students are being asked to sit longer, focus longer, and manage increasingly complex expectations.

Purposeful movement can help students:

• Refocus attention

• Improve body awareness

• Reduce stress

• Increase readiness for learning

• Transition more successfully between activities

A hallway can become a place where students practice regulation skills instead of simply passing through.

Hallways That Teach Executive Functioning

Executive functioning skills are some of the most important skills students develop.

These include:

• Following directions

• Planning

• Organization

• Flexible thinking

• Self-monitoring

• Task initiation

Movement-based activities can provide opportunities for students to practice these skills in engaging and meaningful ways.

Hallways That Teach Faith

For Catholic and Christian schools, hallways offer another unique opportunity.

Faith formation doesn't only happen during religion class.

Students can be reminded throughout the day that they are:

✝️ Loved by God

✝️ Created with purpose

✝️ Called to serve others

✝️ Never alone

Bible stories, virtues, prayers, and faith-based movement activities can transform hallways into spaces that support both spiritual and physical development.

Making Every Square Foot Count

One of my favorite things about working with schools is helping them see possibilities they hadn't considered before.

An empty hallway becomes a sensory path.

A blank wall becomes a calming station.

A transition area becomes a space for movement, reflection, and growth.

The best part?

Most schools already have the space they need.

They simply need to look at it differently.

A Simple Question

As you prepare for the upcoming school year, I encourage you to take a walk through your building and ask yourself:

What are our hallways teaching?

Are they simply moving students from one place to another?

Or are they reinforcing the values, skills, and lessons that matter most?

Because every space in a school teaches something.

The question is whether it teaches intentionally.

Would you like help envisioning what a "Hallway That Teaches" could look like in your school?

I'd be happy to create a complimentary mockup using a photo of your hallway, wall, library, counseling office, or common area.

Sometimes the most impactful student support starts with a space you're already walking past every day.

What Is a Holy Path for Kids — and Why Catholic Schools Are Adding Them to Their Hallways

If you've been searching for a "holy path for kids," you're not alone — and you've landed in exactly the right place.

Catholic and Christian schools across the country are discovering a powerful tool that combines two things educators care deeply about: helping kids regulate their bodies and minds, AND growing in their faith. It's called a holy path — and it's transforming school hallways in the most beautiful way.

What Is a Holy Path for Kids?

A holy path for kids is a faith-based sensory path installed in a school hallway or common area. Rather than standard shapes or colors, each movement station is tied to a faith-based concept — Bible stories, Catholic virtues, the Sacraments, the fruits of the Holy Spirit, or scripture verses.

As children walk, hop, balance, and move through the path, they aren't just regulating their nervous systems — they're engaging with the foundations of their faith, one step at a time.

Think of it as a living catechism in your hallway. 🙏

Why Movement Matters for Kids

As an occupational therapist with over 10 years of school-based experience, I've seen firsthand what happens when kids don't get enough movement during the school day. They fidget. They struggle to focus. They act out — not because they're choosing to misbehave, but because their sensory systems are crying out for input.

Research consistently shows that movement:

• Improves focus and attention in the classroom

• Supports emotional regulation

• Reduces anxiety

• Improves readiness to learn

A holy path gives kids a purposeful, structured way to get that movement — without taking a single minute away from academics or faith formation.

What Makes a Holy Path Different from a Regular Sensory Path?

Standard sensory paths are wonderful tools. But for Catholic and Christian schools, a generic sensory path can feel like a missed opportunity.

A holy path is intentionally designed to weave faith into every movement. At Sacred Steps Sensory Paths, our paths are created by a licensed occupational therapist AND grounded in Catholic and Christian tradition, so every hop, balance, and stretch is connected to something meaningful.

Some of our most popular holy path themes include:

• Bible Stories Sensory Path — walking through beloved scripture stories with every step

• Fruit of the Holy Spirit Path — reinforcing love, joy, peace, patience, and more

• Walk With Jesus Path — 3 ft x 10 ft rollable path features six Scripture-inspired movement activities that support regulation, focus, motor planning, and body awareness

• Holy Alphabet Path — faith-based letters from A to Z for younger learners

Faith-based Holy Alphabet sensory path installed in a school hallway, featuring letter-themed movement stations designed by a pediatric occupational therapist to support student regulation and faith formation in Catholic and Christian schools.

Who Is a Holy Path For?

Holy paths work beautifully for:

• Catholic and Christian elementary schools

• Parish preschools and faith-based early childhood programs

• Religious education hallways and common areas

• Therapy clinics serving faith-based communities

• Churches, YMCAs, and community spaces

And the best part? They work for ALL students — not just those with sensory needs. Every child benefits from movement and faith formation woven together throughout the school day.

What Schools Are Saying

Here's a recent review from Delphos St. John's Preschool that sums it up perfectly:

"WOW! We had Sacred Steps Sensory Paths installed last summer and our students loved it during the school year! Families and siblings love it when visiting too. Quick and easy install, and they're still in great shape!"

A full school year of daily use — and still going strong. That's the kind of investment that pays for itself over and over again.

When Is the Best Time to Install a Holy Path?

Summer! Most schools choose to have their holy path installed during the summer months when hallways are clear and there's no disruption to the school day. Sacred Steps installation is quick — typically just a few hours one morning — and your path will be ready and waiting when students return in the fall.

If you're planning for next school year, now is the perfect time to start the conversation.

Ready to Bring a Holy Path to Your School?

Sacred Steps Sensory Paths is the only OT-designed faith-based sensory path company in the country, now serving Catholic and Christian schools in 25 states and Canada.

We'd love to help you create something beautiful — and meaningful — for your students.

👉 Request your FREE custom hallway mockup here and see exactly what a holy path could look like in your space before you commit to anything.

Trisha Nusbaum, OTR/L, MOT is a pediatric occupational therapist with over 10 years of school-based experience and the founder of Sacred Steps Sensory Paths LLC.