Researchers from the CTS-436 group, “Psychosocial and Transcultural Aspects of Health and Illness,” and the CTS-581 group, “Neuropsychology and Psychoneuroimmunology,” affiliated with the Mind, Brain, and Behavior Research Center at the University of Granada, have developed a program for stimulating executive functions for preschool children (PEFEN).
Childhood is a key period for acquiring fundamental skills essential for functioning in adulthood. A series of factors have been identified that protect and enable the proper development of children. Conversely, when these protective factors are lacking or deficient, they become a source of toxic stress for the child. In this context, early intervention that includes actions within health, educational, and community contexts from birth to age 6 is crucial for promoting adequate neurodevelopment. Among these strategies is training in specific skills. Executive functions reach their peak development between the ages of 12 and 18, but they are supported by a series of basic skills that are already present from the early years of life. The objective of the PEFEN program is to train working memory, self-control, and flexibility for preschool children. The program lasts 3 months and is conducted at the school during academic hours, with daily sessions of half an hour, totaling 30 hours. It includes five types of group activities presented as games, programmed to increase in difficulty each month. The study involved 5-year-old children and their families, who were divided into two groups: one that followed the PEFEN program and another that was on a waiting list. The results indicate that after the program, there was an improvement in executive functions. Implementing such stimulation programs not only allows children to enhance skills that contribute to proper cognitive development but also helps prevent academic failure in primary education by improving academic performance and reducing potential behavioral problems.
Pérez-Marfil, M. N., Fernández-Alcántara, M., López-Benítez, R., Pérez-García, M., Pérez-García, M. P., & Cruz-Quintana, F. (2024). Effects of an executive function programme (PEFEN) on preschool children: a pilot study. *Journal for the Study of Education and Development, 47*(1), 113-137.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/02103702231224641
Contact researchers:
María Nieves Pérez Marfil (nperez@ugr.es)
Francisco Cruz Quintana (fcruz@ugr.es)
Miguel Pérez García (mperezg@ugr.es)
Manuel Fernández Alcántara (mfernandeza@ua.es)