OCDSB Speaker Series – Executive Function Skills: Why They Matter for Mental Wellness, and How to Support Them
Executive function (EF) skills — like impulse control, emotional regulation, planning and flexible thinking — are essential for daily life, relationships and mental health. However, many of us weren’t taught these skills growing up. In this webinar, Dr. Michael Cheng will explore why EF skills are important and how to support their development.
When EF skills are underdeveloped, children and adults may struggle emotionally and behaviourally. These challenges are often misunderstood, leading to blame or punishment. Dr. Cheng will help us think about these behaviours as signs of lagging skills, rather than defiance, and to support EF development through:
- Empathetic responses
- Calm environments
- Visual cues
- Routines
- Modeling strategies out loud
Date: Wednesday, September 17th, 2025
Time: 6:30 - 8:00 p.m.
Format: Zoom webinar
Register now. You will receive an email containing a link to access the webinar.
This event is part of our OCDSB Speaker Series.
About the Speaker:
Michael Cheng is a psychiatrist at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario and an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Ottawa. He works with children, youth and families to find calm and safety by reconnecting them to that which gives purpose, belonging, hope and meaning. Children do well if they can, so if they struggle, he works with them to identify what barriers (including societal and brain-based) are getting in the way, so that these barriers can be overcome. As a post-pandemic parent himself, he understands first-hand the challenges of parenting our modern, screen-obsessed, digital society. Special interests include self-regulation, the role of technology and how modern society can learn from traditional cultures and teachings.