A Study of Young Children’s Executive Functions and the Promotion of Young Children’s Executive Functions by Parents

Abstract

The objectives of this study were 1) to investigate the developmental level of executive functions of early childhood children and 2) to study development practices by parents. The population included 1) male and female early childhood children aged 4 - 6 years, children in kindergarten level 1 and children in kindergarten level 2, totaling 60 students, 2) parents of 60 students. The sample consisted of 1) kindergarten level 1 and  kindergarten level 2, totaling 29 students. 2) Parents of 29 students in the sample. The children in the sample group were selected by a purposive sampling. For the inclusion criteria, students aged 2 - 6 years were selected according to the age criteria in the Executive Functions Developmental Assessment (EF) Scale (MU.EF-101). The instruments used in the study were 1) Executive Functions Developmental Assessment (EF) Scale (MU.EF-101), 2) a questionnaire on the development practices by parents and 3) a record form on the development of executive functions of early chi7ldhood and the promotion of executive functions of early childhood by parents. Data were analyzed by means of mean, percentage, and content analysis. The results of this study indicated that overall developmental level of Executive Functions of the sample early childhood children was at a moderate level. The development practices by parents was at a high level.