{"id":6270,"date":"2024-06-09T23:47:38","date_gmt":"2024-06-09T19:47:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/phf.org.ge\/resources\/executive-function-activities-for-children-18-to-36-months\/"},"modified":"2024-11-13T12:24:55","modified_gmt":"2024-11-13T08:24:55","slug":"executive-function-activities-for-children-18-to-36-months","status":"publish","type":"resources","link":"https:\/\/phf.org.ge\/en\/resources\/executive-function-activities-for-children-18-to-36-months\/","title":{"rendered":"Executive Function Activities for Children 18 to 36 Months<\/strong>"},"content":{"rendered":"

At this stage of development, children are rapidly expanding their language skills. Language plays an essential role in developing executive function and self-regulation (EF\/SR) by helping children label thoughts, actions, and plans. Bilingualism is also associated with improved EF\/SR, so parents fluent in more than one language should use these languages in interactions with their children.<\/p>\n

Active Play<\/strong><\/p>\n

Children aged 18 to 36 months develop significant motor skills and enjoy physical play. The activities below require children to maintain focus, suppress unnecessary actions, and try new approaches if their first attempt doesn\u2019t succeed.
\n\u2022\tProvide materials and opportunities for practicing new skills, such as throwing and catching balls, balancing, and running up and down inclines. Set simple rules like taking turns to the “finish line” to build working memory and inhibition.
\n\u2022\tImitation games like “Follow the Leader” or action songs are fun and build memory and attention skills.
\n\u2022\tGames requiring self-control, like “Freeze Dance,” are also engaging. These games help children practice stopping and starting movements on cue.
\n\u2022\tSongs with multiple movements encourage children to pay attention to words and use working memory to guide their movements.
\n\u2022\tFinger plays, songs, and rhymes with gestures stimulate attention, memory, and self-control.<\/p>\n

Talking and Storytelling<\/strong><\/p>\n

As language skills grow, children begin to engage in active conversations and simple storytelling.
\n\u2022\tNarrating a child\u2019s play helps them understand how language describes actions. Add questions like “What will you do next?” to encourage reflection on their actions.
\n\u2022\tTelling stories about shared experiences allows children to reflect and sequence events in memory.
\n\u2022\tTalking about emotions helps children name their feelings, supporting emotional regulation, crucial for executive function.
\nSorting and Matching Games
\nAt this age, children enjoy simple pairing and sorting games, which require them to understand and follow a rule.
\n\u2022\tPlay sorting games by size, shape, or color. Switch rules to challenge working memory and attention.
\n\u2022\tMore complex sorting games, like placing small figures in a large container and large shapes in a small container, challenge children to suppress familiar actions, exercise selective attention, and use working memory.
\n\u2022\tIntroduce simple puzzles to develop attention and planning skills.<\/p>\n

Imaginative Play<\/strong><\/p>\n

Toddlers begin to develop basic imaginative play skills by imitating adults\u2019 actions, such as cleaning with a broom or pretending to cook. At this age, actions evolve into simple imaginative play sequences.
\n\u2022\tAsk questions about what they\u2019re doing and narrate their play.
\n\u2022\tPlay alongside them and let them direct the play. Allowing them to guide roles develops self-regulation.
\n\u2022\tProvide familiar household items to encourage pretend play.<\/p>\n

Based on Harvard University\u2019s Center on the Developing Child publication. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"template":"","class_list":["post-6270","resources","type-resources","status-publish","hentry"],"_elementor_inline_svg":null,"_elementor_source_image_hash":null,"_imagify_data":null,"_imagify_optimization_level":null,"_imagify_status":null,"_oembed_b3809bf3bed5275f7641f686539403fa":null,"_oembed_bcfb73503f8d5459243ae8528b4c2001":null,"_translation_status_ka":null,"_wp_attached_file":null,"_wp_attachment_backup_sizes":null,"_wp_attachment_context":null,"_wp_attachment_image_alt":null,"_wp_attachment_metadata":null,"_wpml_media_usage":null,"image_optimizer_metadata":null,"wpml_media_processed":null,"blog-gallery":null,"main-photo-of-the-blog":null,"elementor_font_face":null,"elementor_font_files":null,"_listing_data":null,"_listing_type":null,"_ability_deselect_radio":null,"_active_label":null,"_add_all_option":null,"_all_option_label":null,"_alphabet_behavior":null,"_alphabet_options":null,"_alphabet_radio_deselect":null,"_color_image_ability_deselect_radio":null,"_color_image_add_all_option":null,"_color_image_add_all_option_image":null,"_color_image_add_all_option_lael":null,"_color_image_behavior":null,"_color_image_type":null,"_custom_field_source_plugin":null,"_custom_query_var":null,"_data_exclude_include":null,"_data_source":null,"_date_available_range":null,"_date_available_range_custom_info":null,"_date_available_range_custom_max":null,"_date_available_range_custom_min":null,"_date_format":null,"_date_from_placeholder":null,"_date_period_date_formats_info":null,"_date_period_datepicker_button_text":null,"_date_period_end_format":null,"_date_period_format":null,"_date_period_separator":null,"_date_period_start_end_enabled":null,"_date_period_start_format":null,"_date_period_type":null,"_date_source":null,"_date_to_placeholder":null,"_date_type":null,"_default_filter_value":null,"_default_filter_value_info":null,"_default_filter_value_info_date":null,"_default_filter_value_info_hierarchical":null,"_default_filter_value_info_multiple":null,"_default_filter_value_info_range":null,"_filter_label":null,"_filter_type":null,"_glossary_id":null,"_glossary_notice":null,"_group_by_parent":null,"_group_collapsible":null,"_ih_source_map":null,"_is_custom_checkbox":null,"_is_custom_query_var":null,"_is_default_filter_value":null,"_is_hierarchical":null,"_only_child":null,"_placeholder":null,"_query_builder_color_prop":null,"_query_builder_image_prop":null,"_query_builder_label_prop":null,"_query_builder_queries_to_switch":null,"_query_builder_query":null,"_query_builder_value_prop":null,"_query_compare":null,"_query_switcher_notice":null,"_query_var":null,"_range_inputs_enabled":null,"_range_inputs_separators_enabled":null,"_rating_compare_operand":null,"_rating_options":null,"_s_by":null,"_s_placeholder":null,"_show_empty_terms":null,"_source_callback":null,"_source_color_image_input":null,"_source_custom_field":null,"_source_get_from_field_data":null,"_source_manual_input":null,"_source_manual_input_range":null,"_source_max":null,"_source_min":null,"_source_post_type":null,"_source_step":null,"_source_taxonomy":null,"_terms_relational_operator":null,"_use_exclude_include":null,"_values_decimal_num":null,"_values_decimal_sep":null,"_values_prefix":null,"_values_suffix":null,"_values_thousand_sep":null,"_menu_item_classes":null,"_menu_item_menu_item_parent":null,"_menu_item_object":null,"_menu_item_object_id":null,"_menu_item_target":null,"_menu_item_type":null,"_menu_item_url":null,"_menu_item_xfn":null,"_cms_nav_minihome":"","_top_nav_excluded":"","donor-of-the-project":null,"end-of-project":null,"full-name-of-the-project":null,"general-objective-of-the-project":null,"partner-of-the-project":null,"photo-of-the-project":null,"photograph-of-partner-donor":null,"project-name":null,"project-status":null,"specific-goal-of-the-project_copy":null,"specific-objective-of-the-project":null,"start-of-project":null,"publication-is-intended":null,"publication-pdf":null,"the-publication-photo":null,"_cdp_counter":null,"_cdp_origin":null,"_cdp_origin_site":null,"_cdp_origin_title":null,"resource-link":null,"resource-photo":"2358","the-resource-is-intended-for":{"\u10db\u10e8\u10dd\u10d1\u10da\u10d4\u10d1\u10d8\u10e1\u10d7\u10d5\u10d8\u10e1":"true","\u10d1\u10d0\u10d5\u10e8\u10d5\u10d4\u10d1\u10d8\u10e1\u10d7\u10d5\u10d8\u10e1":"false","\u10de\u10e0\u10dd\u10e4\u10d4\u10e1\u10d8\u10dd\u10dc\u10d0\u10da\u10d4\u10d1\u10d8\u10e1\u10d7\u10d5\u10d8\u10e1":"true"},"video-snapshot":null,"video-url":null,"_edit_last":"","_edit_lock":"","_wpml_media_has_media":null,"_wpml_word_count":"","_elementor_conditions":null,"_elementor_css":null,"_elementor_data":null,"_elementor_edit_mode":null,"_elementor_page_assets":null,"_elementor_page_settings":null,"_elementor_popup_display_settings":null,"_elementor_pro_version":null,"_elementor_screenshot_failed":null,"_elementor_source":null,"_elementor_template_type":null,"_elementor_template_widget_type":null,"_elementor_version":null,"_icl_lang_duplicate_of":null,"_last_translation_edit_mode":"translation-editor","_wp_desired_post_slug":null,"_wp_old_slug":null,"_wp_page_template":null,"_wp_trash_meta_status":null,"_wp_trash_meta_time":null,"_wpml_location_migration_done":null,"_wpml_media_duplicate":"","_wpml_media_featured":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/phf.org.ge\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/resources\/6270","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/phf.org.ge\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/resources"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/phf.org.ge\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/resources"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/phf.org.ge\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6270"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}