Childhood Map

Discover the amazing things 5-year-olds are learning — from climbing and jumping to friendships, feelings, and first words on a page. Each skill comes with fun activities you can try together.

Physical & Motor 8 › Sensory 8 › Executive 7 › Cognitive 6 › Language 5 › Communication 5 › Emotional 5 › Social 6 › Self-Care 7 › Literacy 4 › Math 5 › Creative & Artistic 5 › World & Science 5 ›

Executive Functions

Higher-order cognitive processes that enable goal-directed behavior, self-regulation, and adaptive responses — the strongest predictor of school readiness.

Sources (7)

Diamond (2013) Executive Functions research
Miyake & Friedman (2012)
Zelazo (2015)
Tools of the Mind Curriculum
Head Start ELOF (Approaches to Learning / Cognitive Self-Regulation)
NAEYC
Polish IBE Research (Funkcje Wykonawcze)

7 Subdomains

Inhibitory Control › Working Memory › Cognitive Flexibility › Planning & Organization › Emotional Regulation (Hot Executive Function) › Self-Monitoring & Metacognition › Initiation & Task Engagement ›

Emotional Regulation (Hot Executive Function)

Managing emotional responses to achieve goals, including delaying gratification and coping with frustration.

Examples & Achievements

Waits for a larger reward instead of taking a smaller immediate one
Uses words to express frustration instead of hitting or crying
Calms down after a disappointment with minimal adult help
Persists with a challenging task instead of giving up immediately

How to Measure

Gift delay task (can wait 60 seconds before opening a wrapped gift)
Less-is-more task (point to smaller set to receive larger set)
Teacher/parent rating of emotional regulation (e.g., ERC - Emotion Regulation Checklist)
Observation of recovery time after frustration

Sources (3)

Zelazo (2015)
CASEL
Head Start ELOF

Emotional Regulation (Hot Executive Function)

Managing emotional responses to achieve goals, including delaying gratification and coping with frustration.

Examples & Achievements

Waits for a larger reward instead of taking a smaller immediate one
Uses words to express frustration instead of hitting or crying
Calms down after a disappointment with minimal adult help
Persists with a challenging task instead of giving up immediately

How to Measure

Gift delay task (can wait 60 seconds before opening a wrapped gift)
Less-is-more task (point to smaller set to receive larger set)
Teacher/parent rating of emotional regulation (e.g., ERC - Emotion Regulation Checklist)
Observation of recovery time after frustration

Sources

Zelazo (2015)
CASEL
Head Start ELOF