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 ›
Self-Monitoring & Metacognition

Checking one's own performance, noticing errors, and adjusting strategies.

Examples & Achievements

  • Notices when a puzzle piece does not fit and tries a different one
  • Checks own name writing and corrects a backward letter
  • Says "that didn't work, let me try another way"
  • Reflects on what they did during an activity ("I built a tall tower then it fell")

How to Measure

  • Observation of error-correction behavior during puzzles or building tasks
  • Can describe what they did and what happened (Plan-Do-Review)
  • Detects and corrects at least one error in own drawing or writing (observed)
Sources (3)
  • Diamond (2013)
  • Reggio Emilia (Documentation)
  • HighScope (Reflection)

Childhood Map › Executive Functions

Self-Monitoring & Metacognition

Checking one's own performance, noticing errors, and adjusting strategies.

Examples & Achievements

How to Measure

Sources