Raising Good Humans Ep 79: Goldilocks Parenting: How to Shape Executive Function Skills Through Caregiving with Distinguished Professor, Dr. Stephanie Carlson
Jan 29, 2021
Dr. Stephanie Carlson, a distinguished professor and leading researcher in developmental science, dives into the transformative effects of autonomy-supportive parenting on children's executive function skills. She discusses strategies to nurture self-regulation and cognitive flexibility from infancy through adolescence. Listeners learn about the critical role of caregiver involvement, effective routines, and reflective practices in fostering these essential skills. From tackling impulse control to enhancing problem-solving abilities, this conversation offers invaluable insights for parents.
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What Executive Function Is
- Executive function is conscious control over thoughts, actions, and feelings driven by the prefrontal cortex.
- Key components are working memory, inhibitory control, and cognitive flexibility used in everyday goal-directed tasks.
The Developmental Curve
- Executive function improves steeply between ages 2 and 6, then continues growing into the early 20s before declining slowly.
- The trajectory forms an inverted-U driven by prefrontal cortex maturation and later efficiency loss.
Build Routines With Play
- Create predictable routines and turn-taking interactions with infants to build expectation and flexibility.
- Use games like peekaboo to introduce surprise and encourage cognitive shifting within a known pattern.
