Executive Functions Foundations of Early Childhood Development in the 21st Century

Abstract

           The purpose of this survey research was to study the development of executive functions thought during the early childhood. A total of 355 children, aged 5–6 years, who were in kindergarten 3, Semester 2, and Academic Year 2023, Obtained by stratified random sampling method. Classified by school size Extra large, large, medium and small under the jurisdiction of the Khon Kaen Primary Educational Service Area Office1.The research tools were the Assessment of Executive Function in Early Childhood (MU.EF–101). There were questions about the development of executive functions in 5 areas: Inhibitory control, Shift Cognitive Flexibility, Emotion Control, Working Memory and Plan/Organize.  Data were analyzed using mean, standard deviation. and converting raw scores to T-scores. The results of the study found that early childhood have a low level of executive functions development, should improve (T-Score ≤ 40) 15.49 %, low level, should develop T-Score 40-44), 21.41%, moderate level (T-Score 45 -55) 39.15 %, good level (T-Score 56-60) 6.48 % and very good level (T-Score >60) 17.46 %
         The results of this research show that the percentage of early childhood has overall development in executive functions. At a low level, it should be improved and at a low level, it should be developed at 36.90%, and at a good level and above at only 23.94%.