Executive functioning (EF) in early

Executive functioning (EF) in early childhood is well-established as a predictor of devel-opmental outcomes, yet the factors that influence emerging EF abilities and the interplayamong these factors in predicting individual differences in EF have not been systematicallyexplored. The present study assessed 3.5 to 4.5 year olds (N ? 117) and their parent in theBoston Metropolitan Area. We specifically examine parent EF as a contributor to preschoolchildren’s EF and the role of parenting in this association. We also explore how distinctdimensions of socioeconomic status (i.e., income, parent education, occupational prestige)may differentially moderate the relationship between parent and child EF. Parent and childEF were related, such that the better parents performed on EF tasks, the better their childrenperformed on EF tasks. Parents who reported using more parental strictness in theirparentinghadpoorerEF.Inaddition,incomewastheonlySESindicatorthatmoderatedtherelationship between parent and child EF such that only in lower income households wasparent EF closely linked to child EF. Findings indicate that for children in lower incomehouseholds, who are already at risk for EF deficits, parent EF played a significant role inearly childhood EF skills.