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Infant Development Association of California
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Executive Function: What is it, Why Does it Matter and What Early Intervention Providers Can do to Help
Monday, September 18, 2023, 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM PDT
Category: Events

Child playing with toyExecutive Function: What is it, Why Does it Matter and What Early Intervention Providers Can do to Help

with Wendy Morrison RN, ECSE
Monday, September 18, 2023
12:00pm - 1:30pm | Virtual Event

Can't attend the event live? Register to receive access to the recording!

Angel often struggles to follow even simple directions and often forgets even simple directions. Noah seems rigid, preferring that things be done the same way all of the time and tantrums easily and often, seemingly over even the smallest things. Justice is easily frustrated and often acts out physically when upset. These behaviors are all examples of poor executive function skills in toddlers.

According to the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University, acquiring the early building blocks of executive function skills is one of the most important tasks of the early childhood years. Executive function skills are the building blocks of both cognitive and social development, they help us to control impulses, make plans, and stay focused. Biology and genetics set the stage for the development of these skills, but the right experiences during the first three years of life are crucial in shaping how these skills develop.  

As early interventionists, we have the opportunity to coach caregivers on the importance of these skills and what can be done to help them develop. This talk will give an overview of what we mean by executive function skills and introduce some research-backed ways that caregivers can support their development in very young children.

At the end of this event attendees will be able to:

  • Define executive functioning and describe the role of executive function skills in early childhood development, particularly for children with developmental disabilities.
  • Describe how executive function skills develop in the first three years of life and list some important experiences that promote development of these skills.
  • Describe intervention strategies to share with caregivers that will support executive function skill development for children with a wide range of developmental challenges.


Wendy MorrisonWendy Morrison has worked in the field of early intervention for almost three decades after a number of years working as a pediatric nurse. She is an Early Childhood Special Educator and inclusion consultant working in homes and early care and learning settings around the San Francisco bay area.

For over a decade, Wendy has provided training to early intervention, early childhood and medical professionals on many topics relevant to the field of early intervention. Read more.

Nonmember: $55
IDA Agency/Individual Member: $40
IDA Parent/Student/New Clinician Member: $30

IDA CE Hours: Nursing, PT, Speech and Language $15 (1.5 hours)
CDI CE Hours: LCSW, LMFT, LEP, LPCC (you will be invoiced)

ADA Requests: Contact IDA @ [email protected] with ADA request by Sept 7, 2023

Limited Partial Scholarship Available

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