Relating effortful control, executive function, and false belief understanding to emerging math and literacy ability in kindergarten.
Journal
  Child development.
Citation
  Child Dev. 78(2):647-63
Publication date
  2007 Mar-Apr
Authors
  Blair C
Razza RP
Grant agencies
  National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
Grants
  NICHD P01 HD39667
NICHD R01 HD51502
NICHD R03 HD39750
MeSH headings
  Aptitude
Culture
Exertion
Internal-External Control
Mathematics
Personal Construct Theory
Problem Solving
Reading
Abstract
  This study examined the role of self-regulation in emerging academic ability in one hundred and forty-one 3- to 5-year-old children from low-income homes. Measures of effortful control, false belief understanding, and the inhibitory control and attention-shifting aspects of executive function in preschool were related to measures of math and literacy ability in kindergarten. Results indicated that the various aspects of child self-regulation accounted for unique variance in the academic outcomes independent of general intelligence and that the inhibitory control aspect of executive function was a prominent correlate of both early math and reading ability. Findings suggest that curricula designed to improve self-regulation skills as well as enhance early academic abilities may be most effective in helping children succeed in school.