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 ›
by Robert Pankowecki
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 ›
Inhibitory Control

Suppressing automatic or impulsive responses in favor of goal-appropriate behavior.

Examples & Achievements

  • Waits for their turn without grabbing
  • Stops an action when told "freeze" or "stop"
  • Plays Simon Says correctly (inhibits movement on wrong commands)
  • Raises hand instead of shouting out an answer
  • Resists touching a tempting object when asked not to

How to Measure

  • Head-Toes-Knees-Shoulders (HTKS) task
  • Simon Says game accuracy (correct inhibitions out of 10 trials)
  • Day-Night Stroop task for young children
  • Pencil tapping task (tap once when examiner taps twice, and vice versa)
Sources (3)
  • Diamond (2013)
  • Head Start ELOF
  • Tools of the Mind

Childhood Map › Executive Functions

Inhibitory Control

Suppressing automatic or impulsive responses in favor of goal-appropriate behavior.

Examples & Achievements

How to Measure

Sources