A Pragmatic Turn in the Study of Early Executive Functions by Object Use and Gestures. A Case Study from 8 to 17 Months of Age at a Nursery School

Datos Bibliográficos

ID6071845
AutoresCintia Rodríguez (0000-0002-4961-2003, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, autor de correspondencia), Iván Moreno-Llanos (0000-0003-4324-8340, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid)
Año2023
Volumen57
Número2
Páginas607-654
Fecha de publicación2023-06-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaIntegrative Psychological and Behavioral Science (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 1932-4502 • E-ISSN: 1936-3567
EditorialSpringer Science and Business Media LLC (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1007/s12124-020-09578-5
PMID33074468
OpenAlexW3093285434
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas13
Referencias citadas112

The two first years of life are critical in the development of Executive Functions (EF). However, very little is known about their early manifestations, how they develop, how they relate to other psychological constructions or the status of other people’s influence in this early development. The study of EFs has been carried out through standardised tasks, but some authors question their ecological validity and suggest an approach involving everyday situations and the challenges that children set for themselves. In this article we first review these issues in relation to the first manifestations of EFs. We secondly present a longitudinal case study at nursery school of a child between the ages of 8 and 17 months, considering the challenges and the means he employed in order to resolve them. We found that, from 8 months of age, the child gave himself challenges in relation to the functional uses of objects and instruments. He regulated his own behavior both through object and instrument uses and private gestures. He also involved the teacher at 17 months. This finding suggests that (1) the material world is particularly important in these early manifestations of EF, (2) teachers’ interventions are essential. Implications of the findings for early years education are discussed

Child development · Developmental psychology · Epistemology · Everyday life · Gesture · Linguistics · Longitudinal study · Object (grammar · Psychological intervention · Relation (database · Set (abstract data type · Child and Animal Learning Development · Early Childhood Education and Development · Medicine · Psychology · Social Representations and Identity