As parents and educators, we delight in seeing our children’s mental abilities expand along with their physical skills in the early years. Their increase in knowledge is impressive, to be sure, but a key development at this age is what researchers call executive function (EF) skills – or a child’s ability to manage and control their own thoughts, actions, and feelings.
Studies show that early-in-life EF skills are predictive of near-term achievements (for example, being ready for kindergarten) as well as long-term success. One study found that children’s attention span measured at 4 years not only predicted math and reading achievement at age 21, but also predicted the odds of completing college by age 25. Another ongoing study of a group from New Zealand found that “self-control” in early childhood predicted several outcomes in adulthood, including physical health, wealth, and a lower probability of divorce, drug abuse, and criminal conviction. These relations hold up when controlling for childhood IQ and family background.
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New content added weekly
Accessible on multiple devices
Downloadable books & games for offline play