Executive Function

Executive function and self-regulation skills are like an air traffic control system in the brain—they help us manage information, make decisions, and plan ahead. We need these skills at every stage of life, and while no one is born with them, we are all born with the potential to develop them. But, how do we do that? Learn more below. Note: We have embarked on our own journey of listening more carefully to the voices of people who are experiencing multiple forms of adversity personally. We have come to better understand that the “executive function and self-regulation skills” that continue to be the focus of extensive research are, in fact, “core skills” for a particular, culturally specific context that rewards goal-oriented planning, impulse control, and delayed gratification—while in other circumstances it may be more adaptive and effective in the short term to develop skills that enable a quick survival response. Biology tells us that human development is about adaptation, as our brains (and the rest of our bodies) adapt to the context in which we live. As we began to think more intentionally about the broad diversity of those contexts, it became increasingly clear that the skills we have been calling “core”—while still important— must be viewed as important only when they’re matched to a particular purpose in a particular set of contexts.

Resources


Caregiver Handouts: Games and Activities that Build Brains and Executive Function Skills
Handout

Caregiver Handouts: Games and Activities that Build Brains and Executive Function Skills

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Executive Function: Information for Providers
Handout

Executive Function: Information for Providers

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How to Motivate Children: Science-Based Approaches for Parents, Caregivers, and Teachers
Third Party Link

How to Motivate Children: Science-Based Approaches for Parents, Caregivers, and Teachers

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InBrief: Understanding the Science of Motivation
Brief

InBrief: Understanding the Science of Motivation

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Understanding Motivation: Building the Brain Architecture That Supports Learning, Health, and Community Participation  
Working Paper

Understanding Motivation: Building the Brain Architecture That Supports Learning, Health, and Community Participation  

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InBrief: Executive Function: Skills for Life and Learning 
Brief

InBrief: Executive Function: Skills for Life and Learning 

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Building the Brain’s “Air Traffic Control” System: How Early Experiences Shape the Development of Executive Function 
Working Paper

Building the Brain’s “Air Traffic Control” System: How Early Experiences Shape the Development of Executive Function 

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Building Babies’ Brains Through Play: Mini Parenting Master Class
Third Party Link

Building Babies’ Brains Through Play: Mini Parenting Master Class

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5 Steps for Brain-Building Serve and Return
Infographic

5 Steps for Brain-Building Serve and Return

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What is Executive Function? And How Does it Relate to Child Development?
Infographic

What is Executive Function? And How Does it Relate to Child Development?

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