When preparing preschoolers for reading, we often focus on letters, sounds, blending, segmenting and recognition of sight words. But did you know the foundation for learning lies in a set of skills known as Executive Functions (EFs)? EFs are the brain’s “control centre,” allowing us to plan, focus, and remember instructions. Some of the EFs include working memory, attention, and flexible thinking.

These skills are important because:

• Working Memory allows a child to hold a letter sound in mind while blending with another (e.g., c-a-t) to form the word ‘cat’
• Attention is needed to focus the words on a page.
• Planning and Organisation become necessary when they progress to planning simple writing tasks.

A preschooler struggling with EFs might show it by having difficulty following multi-step instructions, struggling to recall letter sounds and getting easily distracted.

EFs are skills that can be strengthened through play! Go ahead and try this games at home with your child: 

• Attention: Play “Simon Says” or “Red Light, Green Light.”
• Working Memory: Use “I Went to the Market” list games, or build simple block patterns for your child to copy.
• Flexible Thinking: Engage in sorting games where the rule changes (first sort by color, then by shape).

DAS offers free online preschool screenings for K1 and K2 children. These screenings help determine whether:

• Your child is meeting expected literacy milestones
• There may be early learning gaps
• Your child could benefit from the DAS Preschool Programme

Register for Preschool Screening now! 
Click here to find out more about the Preschool Programme.
Or take a look at this Parent Checklist.