Executive Functions & Joint attention

executive function

allow us to manage and regulate our thoughts, actions, and emotions.

key components of executive function

• Working memory

• inhibitory control

• cognitive flexibility

executive function skills

Skills that develop from infancy through adolescence and support learning, school readiness, social-emotional development, mental health, and success in life

early development of working memory

The ability to hold and manipulate information in the mind

• Development begins as early as 6-9 months

• Object Permanence

inhibitory control

The ability to inhibit impulses, control attention, and delay gratification

• Necessary for 

  • social interaction: making and maintaining friendships

  • turn taking

Cognitive flexibility

Emerges in infancy through exploration and play

Includes:

• Task switching

• Perspective-taking

• Problem-solving

Joint attention

ability to share focus and attention on an object, event, or person with another individual

joint engagement

period of time 2 people are engaged with each other and a shared object, activity, event

3 developmental stages of joint attention
beginning in infancy:

1. Attendance to social partners

2. Emergence and coordination of joint attention

3. Transition to functional, intentional communication

Phase 1: Attendance to social partners

• Become interested in looking at faces

• Develop ability to maintain attention during social interactions

• birth – 6 months

Phase 2: Emergence and coordination of joint attention 

Increased interest in looking at, manipulating nearby objects

• Shift attention from object to person 

• 6 months to 1 year

Phase 3:

Transition to functional, intentional communication

Deficit-Based Perspective

Trying to make autistic children seem less autistic by forcing eye contact or interaction, interrupting their play, or making assumptions about their abilities.

Strengths-Based Perspective

Respects how children communicate and connect with others, considers their sensory needs and environment, avoids forcing eye contact, and helps parents respond to their communication.