How to Build Executive Function Skills in Early Childhood

Did you know that children with strong executive function skills are more likely to graduate from college, and find it easier to build relationships with both children and adults? The development of executive function skills can begin as early as infancy, and at Kinderberry Hill, we start initiating the development of these important skills exactly then.

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***This post is written in partnership with Kinderberry Hill

What are Executive Function Skills?

Executive function skills are the cognitive abilities we use to make decisions, meet goals, focus our attention, and think creatively. They’re the skills you use in relationships, careers, academics, and everyday life, which is why they are often referred to as “skills for life.”

Children are not born with executive function skills, but they are born with the potential to develop them. Through practice and schooling, children can strengthen their executive function abilities, enabling them to thrive in various aspects of their lives.

What are the 7 Executive Functions?

Executive functioning refers to a wide range of skill sets that include:

1. Organization: The ability to keep materials and belongings in their place and in an ordered way.
2. Inhibition: The ability to stop oneself from doing a behavior at the appropriate time, or the opposite of being impulsive.
3. Emotional Control: The ability to calm down and logically realize what type of emotional response is appropriate.
4. Initiation: The ability to start new tasks and independently generate ideas and strategies.
5. Self-monitoring: The ability to compare one’s behavior and performance to some standard and be able to tell whether one is meeting expectations.
6. Working Memory: The ability to keep information in one’s mind long enough to act on it.
7. Planning: The ability to systematically think through the steps needed to complete a task and keep track of time.

How Kinderberry Hill Teaches Executive Function Skills

Our highly trained early education teachers promote executive function skills through:

• Modeling and acknowledging executive function skills throughout daily schedules and routines.
• Encouraging children to pursue what interests them.
• Playing games that require children to focus, remember the rules, and follow directions through games like “Simon Says” or “Red Light – Green Light”.
• Helping children feel understood and helping them to express what they are feeling.
• Praising children’s efforts in practicing executive function. Saying things like, “You are working so hard.” “You are waiting so patiently.” “You remembered all the directions.” “You didn’t give up!” 
• Supporting high-level imaginary play. This play requires children to work together, assign roles, and stick to the appropriate behavior of those roles.

Executive function skills are truly skills for life. By nurturing these abilities during children’s most formative years, they will be able to continue developing, strengthening, and building these skills for the rest of their lives. 

Kinderberry Hill is a Reggio Emilia-inspired early learning program offering care and education for children ages 6 weeks to 5 years. From child-led curriculum to outdoor classrooms, our unique approach to childcare will help your child have the very best start. Visit the Kinderberry Hill website to find a school near you, and contact us to schedule a tour today!

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