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 ›
Working Memory

Holding information in mind and manipulating it mentally to guide actions.

Examples & Achievements

  • Follows 2-3 step instructions given at once
  • Remembers what they went to another room to get
  • Retells the main events of a story in order
  • Plays a memory card matching game successfully
  • Remembers classroom routines without constant reminding

How to Measure

  • Follows a 3-step novel instruction accurately
  • Digit span forward (3-4 digits at age 5)
  • Backward word span (2 words at age 5)
  • Mr. Cucumber memory task (body part recall)
  • Corsi block-tapping task (visuospatial working memory)
Sources (3)
  • Diamond (2013)
  • Miyake & Friedman
  • ASQ-3

Childhood Map › Executive Functions

Working Memory

Holding information in mind and manipulating it mentally to guide actions.

Examples & Achievements

How to Measure

Sources