Executive Function Development at Daycare 2026

Executive function skills—the brain's management system—are essential for school success and life outcomes. Quality childcare programs support the development of these crucial cognitive abilities.

What Is Executive Function?

Definition

Executive function includes:

• Self-regulation
• Working memory
• Cognitive flexibility
• Planning and organizing
• Impulse control

Why It Matters

EF predicts:

• School readiness
• Academic success
• Social competence
• Life outcomes
• Mental health

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Core Components

Working Memory

The ability to:

• Hold information in mind
• Use it for thinking
• Follow multi-step directions
• Remember while doing
• Connect information

Cognitive Flexibility

The ability to:

• Think flexibly
• Switch between tasks
• Adapt to changes
• See different perspectives
• Handle transitions

Inhibitory Control

The ability to:

• Control impulses
• Resist distractions
• Delay gratification
• Think before acting
• Follow rules

Development by Age

Infants

Building foundations:

• Attention developing
• Basic memory forming
• Learning cause and effect
• Beginning regulation

Toddlers

Emerging skills:

• Short-term memory growing
• Beginning impulse control
• Handling some transitions
• Following simple rules
• Delayed gratification emerging

Preschoolers

Developing:

• Following multi-step directions
• More impulse control
• Cognitive flexibility
• Planning abilities
• Problem-solving

How Quality Programs Support EF

Through Play

Play develops EF:

• Pretend play requires memory
• Games have rules
• Building needs planning
• Social play requires flexibility
• All play builds EF

Through Routines

Predictable routines:

• Build memory
• Support transition
• Teach expectations
• Reduce cognitive load
• Allow skill practice

Through Activities

Specific activities:

• Games with rules
• Songs with actions
• Puzzles and problems
• Multi-step projects
• Planning activities

Activities That Build EF

Memory Games

Examples:

• Matching games
• Simon says
• Sequence games
• Story retelling
• Following directions

Self-Regulation Activities

Practice:

• Freeze dance
• Red light/green light
• Wait time activities
• Taking turns
• Breathing exercises

Flexible Thinking

Support with:

• Open-ended activities
• Problem-solving
• Perspective-taking
• Multiple solutions
• Changing plans

Planning Activities

Include:

• Building projects
• Art planning
• Sequence activities
• Goal-setting
• Multi-step tasks

What to Look For

Quality Indicators

Programs should:

• Emphasize self-regulation
• Include games with rules
• Support planning
• Teach problem-solving
• Have predictable routines

Teacher Practices

Adults should:

• Support regulation
• Scaffold planning
• Model flexible thinking
• Allow wait time
• Encourage problem-solving

Environment

Supports EF through:

• Organized spaces
• Visual schedules
• Predictable routines
• Materials for play
• Calm atmosphere

Questions to Ask

About EF Development

Ask programs:

• How do you support self-regulation?
• What games do you play?
• How do you teach planning?
• What about following directions?
• How do you handle transitions?

About Approach

Understand:

• Philosophy on regulation
• Discipline approach
• How flexibility taught
• Memory building activities
• Problem-solving support

Common Challenges

Impulsivity

When child impulsive:

• Normal development
• Practice helps
• Games build skills
• Patience needed
• Coaching helps

Difficulty with Transitions

When transitions hard:

• Warnings help
• Predictability matters
• Flexibility develops
• Practice supports
• Transition strategies

Following Directions

When challenging:

• Fewer steps
• Visual supports
• Repetition
• Patience
• Gradually increase

Supporting at Home

Daily Practice

At home:

• Play games with rules
• Multi-step directions
• Planning activities
• Waiting practice
• Problem-solving

Simple Games

Try:

• Board games
• Card games
• Freeze dance
• Simon says
• Memory games

Routines

Help through:

• Consistent routines
• Visual schedules
• Predictability
• Transition practice

Research Support

What Studies Show

Research indicates:

• EF more predictive than IQ for success
• Early development critical
• Can be improved with practice
• Play is powerful
• Programs can help

Long-Term Outcomes

Strong EF predicts:

• Academic achievement
• Career success
• Relationship quality
• Health outcomes
• Life satisfaction

Key Takeaways

EF is crucial:

• Predicts success
• Develops in early years
• Can be supported
• Play builds it
• Practice helps

Core skills:

• Working memory
• Cognitive flexibility
• Inhibitory control
• Planning
• Problem-solving

Quality programs:

• Support self-regulation
• Include appropriate games
• Teach planning
• Use predictable routines
• Model flexible thinking

At home:

• Play games with rules
• Practice waiting
• Support planning
• Be patient
• Celebrate progress

Executive function skills are foundational for success. Quality childcare programs intentionally support their development through play, routines, and skilled teaching.

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