Whether or not the term "executive functions" rings a bell, most parents are probably very familiar with these skills which include planning, organization, focused attention, initiation, rule acquisition, and inhibiting inappropriate actions. Throughout a child's development, caregivers are granted a front row seat to watch as these abilities unfold as the brain areas responsible for these processes mature.
As infants children gradually begin to explore their environments in a more deliberate fashion. They purposely seek out objects of interest and engage in basic problem solving tasks. As they mature and enter toddlerhood, most parents notice that children are able to internalize more complex rules which begin to help them organize their behavior. While they continue to learn by exploring their environment and engaging in trial-and-error experiences, a greater degree of flexibility often emerges during the preschool years. For example, a 4-year old child is typically able to consider basic things from the perspective of others, and generate more than one way to approach a problem or challenge.The ultimate task of the executive functioning system is to allow a child to visualize an obstacle, develop a plan to overcome it, carry that plan out, and reflect upon their experience to learn which aspects were successful and which need to be altered. The reality is that this process continues to develop even after adolescence, and as such, the emerging aspect of executive functioning are quite fragile in early childhood. Thus, the very skills that a parent may see glimpses of will be the first to falter when a child is hungry, tired, sick, or otherwise under stress. So it is no wonder that a two year old may be able to reason with some flexibility when things are going well only to have a meltdown if faced with a similar situation under less favorable circumstances.
Dr. O'Leary is a clinical psychologist who specializes in conducting neurodevelopmental and neuropsychological assessments with children (age 2-adolescence). She also provides cognitive-behavioral therapy for children with various attentional, behavioral, emotional, and developmental struggles.
