In this episode of the Where Parents Talk podcast, host Lianne Castelino speaks to Dr. Anna Levy-Warren, licensed clinical psychologist and founder of Organizational Tutors, who breaks down executive functioning challenges in children and teens.
From the “air traffic control of the brain” to why structure at home matters more than parents realize, this conversation offers practical insight for families navigating ADHD, neurodiversity, and learning differences.
Dr. Levy-Warren also shares what shifted in her own parenting when she realized her expertise didn’t make the hard moments any easier.
Key Takeaways
- Executive functioning skills—like organization, time management, and self-regulation—are essential and develop over time.
- Struggles often show up more at home due to less structure and more distractions.
- What looks like laziness may actually be a developmental or neurodiverse challenge.
- Consistent difficulty despite structure may signal it’s time to seek professional support.
- There’s no one-size-fits-all solution—strategies must be tailored to each child.
- Open communication and collaboration are more effective than control.
- Simple tools like family calendars and weekly check-ins can make a meaningful difference.
DR. ANNA LEVY-WARREN
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Entrepreneur
Founder and CEO, Organizational Tutors
Mother of three
“It’s an umbrella term, meaning that it really captures an interrelated set of cognitive processes. You’re going to get a lot of different definitions, but in the simplest way, I consider it the air traffic control of the brain.”
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