Given the increasing number of tests used in research over the last two decades and their application potential for early intervention, we propose in this article a critical review of about sixty tools assessing executive functions (EF) in preschool age children (2 to 6 years old). In order to introduce the EF notion, we will briefly discuss theoretical models, development of EF in children, measurement and EF tests, especially for preschool age children. Consensus over conceptual issues seems to emerge: EF would be cognitive control processes for problem resolution in front of complex or new problems. Among these processes, we especially distinguish inhibition, flexibility, and updating. However, the demonstration of the efficiency of these tests for preschool children is far from complete. Therefore, we propose to establish which are the most promising measures after having identified which are the most commonly used. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)
