Research suggests that strong executive function skills are linked to better mental health and a good quality of life. By finding ways to strengthen executive function in toddlers with a family history of ADHD and/or autism, Dr Alex Hendry and her colleagues are supporting toddlers to develop skills that will help them thrive as adults.
Why this project matters
Executive function refers to a set of skills that impact day-to-day living. Our executive function skills help someone plan, initiate tasks, prioritise, adapt to changing conditions, and regulate their behaviour and emotions.
Research suggests that young children who are likely to be autistic, have ADHD or both would benefit from additional support with developing executive functioning skills.
That’s why Dr Alex Hendry and her colleagues are working on START, which stands for Supporting Toddlers with a family history of autism/ADHD to develop strong Attention, Regulation and Thinking skills.
About the research
Alex and her colleagues are trialling a group-based intervention for parents and toddlers. Their aim is to support the strong development of attention, regulation and thinking skills in young children with a family history of neurodivergence, who may be more likely to become neurodivergent too.
Although family history is a strong indicator of potential neurodivergence, not all children with neurodivergent parents will necessarily become so themselves. Whether a child is likely to discover they are neurodivergent or not, developing strong executive functioning skills is associated with happier, healthier and successful lives. Additional support can be beneficial for any toddler.
START is about helping toddlers strengthen skills that will help them thrive in later life. It’s not about training young neurodivergent people to display neurotypical behaviours, or reducing the chance of someone getting diagnosed as autistic or with ADHD later in life. START embraces neurodiversity, which can be seen by the project’s involvement with parents with relevant lived experience.
The project is steered by and developed alongside autistic people and people with ADHD. They offered guidance on programme content and prioritise which measures to test. This helps ensure that the executive function skills are taught in a way that works with neurodivergence, rather than against it.
The project will provide opportunities for toddlers to develop their executive functioning skills through playing games and singing with their parents. It will support parents to develop a better understanding of their children, in ways that affirm neurodiversity.
How the research is making more of a difference
Providing children and parents with these skills may improve neurodivergent children's experiences of learning and socialising. It will also help them understand what types of tailored support best suit children with a family history of neurodivergence.
This project will give additional support to toddlers with a family connection to neurodivergence to help them strengthen skills that can help them thrive.
Find out more about the project here: START project – Supporting Toddlers with a family connection to autism or ADHD to develop strong Attention, Regulation and Thinking skills
How we are involved
We're proud to partner on a project that will help strengthen skills that can help neurodivergent young people thrive.
As a partner on this project, we are:
- Supporting with steering the development of this project.
- Keeping the public informed about developments through communications sent to the Autistica Network.
- Increasing the impact by setting up stakeholder events to share findings with wider audiences.