Essential Executive Function Tools
A carefully curated collection of tools we’ve tested, loved, and recommend for families every day.
From visual timers to sensory supports, each product on this list has been chosen for its ability to help families make executive function skills more tangible in daily life, through improving focus, building better routines, or managing stress
Explore what works best for your home, and remember: small, consistent supports lead to lasting change.
Affiliate Disclaimer: Some of the links on this page are affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission if you choose to make a purchase — at no additional cost to you. We only recommend products and tools that we personally use, love, or genuinely believe can support executive function and well-being for families. Your support helps us continue creating research-based resources and practical tools for our community.
Calendars & Planners
This is a super cool calendar. It is a physical, touch screen calendar that connects to an app on your phone so everyone in the family can add events. You can also use it to manage chores.
Ella’s Favorite Physical Planner
This planner is my go to planner. It has space for brain dumps, To-do lists, and your daily agenda. It has the week view and the month view which I love. Very ADHD friendly.
From to-do cards to habit trackers to braindump sheets to object permanence trackers this website has something to support every ADHD (or just over-scheduled) brain.
Talk about making time visible! This giant wall calendar shows a month-to-month view of the entire year. It’s super helpful to see the entire month and year on one page.
These wide Post-it notes pair perfectly with the Big A** Calendar or your current calendar/planner. The extra space makes them more useful for notes and extra details. Plus they come in fun colors!
At-A-Glance 20” x 30” Calendar
For those who want a big calendar but not a big a** calendar, this is just right. View the whole month with plenty of space for appointments, activities and reminders.
Productivity Tools
A physical device that you tap your phone against to "brick" your phone and block apps.
Support sustained attention and time management with a Pomodoro timer. Choose preset intervals or create your own countdown to balance focused work sessions with mindful rest.
Need to make time more visible? This is a great tool to help people stay on track, build time awareness, and give time boundaries.
Make time visual with these elegant sand timers. Perfect for kids and adults alike, they turn abstract minutes into something tangible—ideal for transitions, homework focus, or short movement breaks.
Stress Management
Yoga and Meditation Starter Kit
Support self-regulation and mindfulness with a beginner-friendly yoga and meditation kit. A gentle way to connect body and mind—perfect for both parents and kids learning stress management together.
A soothing sensory tool that helps calm the nervous system and improve focus. Great for homework, reading, or mealtimes, this lap pad provides gentle pressure to promote grounding and attention. Here’s one for kids!
Acupressure Mat and Pillow Set
Encourage relaxation and body awareness with gentle acupressure. Using this mat for just a few minutes a day can help reduce stress, release tension, and support better sleep.
Minimize distractions and sensory overload with quality noise-cancelling headphones. Ideal for studying, deep work, or recharging in noisy environments.
Apps & Online Tools
Ever heard of the Pomodoro Technique? This free digital pomodoro timer has a simple interface that prompts you to work for 25 minutes then take a 5 minute break.
Similar to the Apple restrictions, this pops up to block you from using apps.
This app calculates how much of your lifetime will be spent on your phone based on your current screen time. It sets up no phone zones and blocks you apps at certain times of day.
This app is... ridiculous but genius. When you you open the app and hit the focus button, the bean knits scarves and socks. If you leave the app, the bean drops its stitches and gets sad.
A focus timer that plants a seed which grows into a tree as long as you don't leave the app. Help plant a real forest!