The MEFS® is a 5-minute direct assessment of executive function for ages 2 and up. How it works, where it came from, and what the results mean.
The Science of Executive Function: What’s Happening in Your Child’s Brain
How the prefrontal cortex, reflection, and stress shape executive function in early childhood, and what the brain science means for parents.
Executive Function: The Skills Behind Life and Learning
What executive function is, why it predicts school and life success beyond IQ, how it grows from age 2 to 7, and how families can support it at home.
Provision Choice and Executive Function Development
Provision of Choice is Key to Executive Function Development in Toddlers It is clear that early executive function (EF) skills are important for many outcomes including social competence, emotion regulation, academic achievement, and school readiness (Allan et al., 2014, McClelland et al., 2013; Willoughby et al., 2017). We have seen remarkable growth in the number…
Unleashing the Power of Pretend Play: The Batman Effect and Beyond
In a world full of distractions and temptations, fostering perseverance and self-control in children can often feel like an uphill battle. However, Dr. Stephanie Carlson’s recent research sheds light on an unexpected ally in the quest to develop these crucial executive function skills: pretend play. On a new episode of the Catalyst 360 podcast, Dr. Stephanie…
EF and Math Success
Understanding How Executive Function Training Impacts Mathematics Skills in Preschool Children: A Conversation With Developmental Psychologist Dr. Jasmine Ernst Evidence suggests there is a positive correlation between strong executive function (EF) skills and academic growth over time. Programs that integrate EF practice into early childhood curriculum may see significant improvements in learning and social development. Why…
Distanced but still Social: Youth and Digital Media during COVID-19
During the COVID-19 pandemic, child and adolescent use of digital media increased at unprecedented rates. In addition to attending classes through webcams, youth relied on digital media to socialize with peers, engage in social activism, play games, learn new skills, and interact with health care providers. This increased use has many parents wondering: Are my…
There’s More to “Seat-Time” Than We Thought
There has been a lot of discussion about earning credit via “seat time” (aka Carnegie units) versus “proof of mastery.” Where one insists a person attend a minimum number of class periods while the other cares not about attendance, just the ability to demonstrate knowledge however that may be done. When it comes to early…
Supporting Theory of Mind Development in Children
Theory of Mind (ToM) is the ability to understand that other people have thoughts that are different from our own. Acquiring this understanding of the mind is a crucial developmental milestone for children and allows them to succeed in environments such as school. Using their ToM, children can make predictions about another person’s behavior and…
Clinician Spotlight: Executive Function, ADHD, and Academic Success
Self-regulation and Executive Function (EF) rely on three key types of brain function: working memory, mental flexibility, and inhibitory control. These highly interrelated skills are imperative to a child’s development. But what does this mean for children diagnosed with ADHD? A Bit of Background In a recently published study done by Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical…