Let Me Choose: The Role of Choice in the Development of Executive Function Skills
Stephanie M. Carlson
Abstract
Executive function (EF) skills, including working memory, inhibition, and cognitive flexibility, form the neurocognitive basis for conscious, goal-directed behavior and self-control. Young children are notoriously deficient in such skills, but EF improves most rapidly in the preschool period. Individual differences in EF are predictive of a host of important life outcomes, and recent advances in measurement and intervention are promising. Caregivers play a key role in the development of EF, particularly with respect to supporting the child’s autonomy. I take a closer look at agency and discuss theoretical and empirical support for the notion that giving children a sense of choice in how to act, think, and feel is essential for healthy EF skill development in early childhood.