During the last 2 decades, major advances have been made in understanding the development of
executive functions (EFs) in early childhood. This article reviews the EF literature during the preschool
period using an integrative framework. The framework adopted considers EF to be a unitary construct
with partially dissociable components (A. Miyake et al., 2000). The authors focus on 3 EF components:
working memory, response inhibition, and shifting. For the present purposes, the central executive is
conceived of as a central attention system that is involved in all EF component operations. Research to
date suggests that elementary forms of the core EF components are present early during the preschool
period. Changes in EF during the latter half of the preschool period appear to be due to the development
of attention and integration of component EFs. Finally, the review outlines a number of areas that warrant
further investigation if researchers are to move forward in understanding early EF development.