College of Education and Human Development

Institute of Child Development

People

Stephanie Carlson

  • Associate Director, ICD
    Distinguished McKnight University Professor

I investigate basic developmental processes in executive function (brain basis of self-control) in children from infancy through adolescence, with a focus on the preschool period.

    DEGREES

    PhD, 1997, University of Oregon

      AREAS OF INTEREST

      Cognitive development, executive function, play, parenting, culture, learning

        BIOGRAPHY

        Research

        I investigate basic developmental processes in executive function (brain basis of self-control) in children from infancy through adolescence, with a focus on the preschool period. I have contributed to measurement starting at 24 months of age with the Minnesota Executive Function Scale (MEFS, provided by Reflection Sciences, Inc.). I am particularly interested in how EF skills can be cultivated through play, parenting, and education, and in turn, how EF skills prepare children for learning, especially in STEM fields.

          PUBLICATIONS

          Kim, S., & Carlson, S. M. (2025). Preschoolers’ win-stay/lose-shift strategy use in the Children’s Gambling Task. Behavioral Sciences. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs16010023

          Frank, M. C., Baumgartner, H. A., Braginsky, M., Kacheris, G., Lightbody, A. A., Sparks, R. Z., Zhu, R., Carlson, S. M., Graham, S., Lipina, S. J., Newcombe, N. S., Odgers, C. L., Pianta, R. C., Siegler, R. S., Snowling, M., Yoshikawa, H., Cubillo, A., & Dodge, K.A. (2025). Learning Variability Network Exchange (LEVANTE): A global framework for measuring children’s learning variability through collaborative data sharing. Child Development. http://doi.org/10.1111/cdev.70011

          Flynn, R. M., Han, Y. C., Kaat, A. J, Mansolf, M., Dworak, E. M., Pila, S., Yao, L., Carlson, S. M., Oakes, L. M., Gershon, R. C. & Zelazo, P. D. (2025). Development and validation of the NIH Baby Toolbox Executive Function and Memory measures. Infant Behavior and Development. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.infbeh.2025.102118

          Vaisarova, J., & Carlson, S. M. (2025). Can young children control their creativity? Examining the role of executive function in modifying children’s creative processes. Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity, and the Arts. https://dx.doi.org/10.1037/aca0000779

          Ernst, J., Mazzocco, M. M., & Carlson, S. M. (2025). Concurrent and predictive associations between executive function and numerical skills in early childhood. Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, 250, 106-113. DOI:10.1016/j.ijedro.2022.100201

          Palmer, A.R., Kalstabakken, A.W., Distefano, R., Carlson, S.M., Putnam, S.P. & Masten, A.S. (2025). A Short Executive Functioning Questionnaire in the context of early childhood screening: Psychometric properties. Child Neuropsychology, 31(1), 1-30. https://doi.org/10.1080/09297049.2024.2329435

          Carlson, S. M. (2025). Let children choose: Autonomy-supportive care for cognitive growth. International Journal of Birth & Parent Education, 12(2), 14. 

          Heise, M. J., Meristo, M., Ueno, M., Itakura, S., & Carlson, S. M. (2025). Cultural differences in visual attention emerge in infancy. Infancy, 30(1). https://doi.org/10.1111/infa.12651

          Kim, S., Berry, D., & Carlson, S. M. (2025). Should I stay or should I go? Children’s persistence in the context of diminishing rewards. Developmental Science, 28(1). DOI:10.1111/desc.13585

          Distefano, R., Nelson, K. M., Palmer, A. R., Masten, A. S., & Carlson, S. M. (2024). The role of parenting in autonomy and executive function development among young children experiencing homelessness. Children and Youth Services Review, 166. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2024.107997.

          Kim, S., & Carlson, S. M. (2024). Understanding explore-exploit dynamics in child development: Current insights and future directions. Frontiers in Developmental Psychology. https://doi.org/10.3389/fdpys.2024.1467880

          Ernst, J. R., Pan, S. E., & Carlson, S. M. (2024). Remote assessment of the association between early executive function and mathematics skills. Infant and Child Development. https://doi.org/10.1002/icd.2534

          Zhang, J., Vohs, K. D., & Carlson, S. M. (2024). Imagining the future improves saving in preschoolers. Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, 246. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jecp.2024.105966

          Grenell, A., Ernst, J. R., & Carlson, S. M. (2024). Preschool children’s science learning: Instructional approaches and individual differences. Early Education and Development. https://doi.org/10.1080/10409289.2024.2360884 

          Putnam, S. P., Selec, E., French, B., Gartstein, M.A., Lira Luttges, B. and 489 Members of the Global Temperament Project (2024).  The Global Temperament Project: Parent-Reported Temperament in Infants, Toddlers and Children from 59 Nations. Developmental Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1037/dev0001732. (S. M. Carlson).

          Distefano, R., Palmer, A. R., Kalstabakken, A. W., Hillyer, C. K., Seiwert, M. J., Zelazo, P. D., Carlson, S. M., & Masten, A. S. (2023). Predictive validity of NIH Toolbox Executive Function measures with Developmental Extensions: Pre-Kindergarten screening to third grade benchmark tests of achievement. Developmental Neuropsychology. https://doi.org/10.1080/87565641.2023.2286353

          Castelo, R. J., Kim, S., & Carlson, S. M. (2023). More is more: Toddlers do not show choice overload. Frontiers in Developmental Psychology. https://doi.org/10.3389/fdpys.2023.1317426

          Prager, E. O., Ernst, J., Mazzocco, M. M., & Carlson, S. M. (2023). Executive function and mathematics in preschool children: Training and transfer effects. Journal of Experimental Child Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jecp.2023.105663

          Carlson, S. M. (2023). Let me choose: The role of choice in the development of executive function skills. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 32(3), 220-227. https://doi.org/10.1177/09637214231159052 

          Lasch, C., Carlson, S. M., & Elison, J. T. (2023). Responding to joint attention as a developmental catalyst: Longitudinal associations with language and social responsiveness. Infancy, 28(2), 339-366. http://doi.org/10.1111/infa.12515

          Zelazo, P. D., & Carlson, S. M. (2023). Reconciling the context-dependency and domain-generality of executive function skills from a developmental systems perspective. Journal of Cognition and Development, 24, 161-171. https://doi.org/10.1080/15248372.2022.2156515

            PRESENTATIONS

            Carlson, S. M. (2026, January). Development of executive function in early childhood: Trajectories and transformations. Harley Hotchkiss Memorial Lecture. Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience at the University of Lethbridge, Canada (virtual).

            Carlson, S. M. (2025, October). Reflection as a key ingredient in the development of executive function skills [Invited presentation]. Real Skills for Real Life, AASA Summit. Washington, DC.

            Carlson, S. M. (2025, October). MasterClass: Interventions to improve executive function skills [Invited presentation]. 1st International Neuroscience Conference, Wumbox/OXED (virtual).

            Carlson, S. M. (2025, July). Executive function skills and mathematics achievement [Invited presentation]. Camp Epsilon (virtual).

            Carlson, S. M. (2025, June). Critical questions for expanding knowledge of executive function skills [Invited presentation]. Deconstructing the Universal Mind Workshop. Washington, DC.

            Carlson, S. M. (2025, June). Pilot program using the Minnesota Executive Function Scale at home [Invited presentation]. Bright Horizons Advisory Network (virtual).

            Carlson, S. M. (2025, April). Executive function as a common feature in developmental disorders: Emerging principles and best practices for intervention [Keynote address]. 57th Gatlinburg Conference on Research and Theory in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. San Diego, CA.

            Carlson, S. M. (2025, March). The development of executive function: What is typical, what can go wrong, and can we change trajectories? [Invited presentation]. The Spectrum of Developmental Disabilities XLVI: The many flavors of ADHD. Johns Hopkins University (virtual).

            Zhang, J., & Carlson, S. M. (2025, March). University of Minnesota study of executive function and predictors of STEM [Invited presentation]. Measurement Conference, Jinan University, China.

            Carlson, S. M., & Zhang, J. (2025, March). Measuring executive function skills in early childhood and beyond [Invited presentation]. Measurement Conference, Jinan University, China (virtual).

            Carlson, S. M. (2024, April). Measuring executive function skills in early childhood and beyond [Invited presentation]. Measurement Lab, Harvard Graduate School of Education. Cambridge, MA.

            Carlson, S. M. (2024, March). Executive function skills: Principles for prevention and intervention [Invited presentation]. Boston Children’s Hospital. Boston, MA.

            Carlson, S. M. (2023, November). Executive function and reading [Invited presentation]. National Hsing Hua University, Taiwan.

            Carlson, S. M. (2023, November). Measurement of executive function skills [Invited presentation]. National Hsing Hua University, Taiwan.

            Carlson, S. M. (2023, September). Executive function skills in school readiness and learning [Invited colloquium speaker]. Harvard Graduate School of Education. Cambridge, MA.

            Carlson, S. M., & Zelazo, P. D. (2023, February). Reflection, executive function, and the developing brain [Keynote address]. Teaching Behaved Brains: Strategies for Challenging, Disruptive Behaviors, Autism, ADHD, and Executive Function. Learning & the Brain. San Francisco, CA.

            Headshot of Stephanie Carlson