Deborah Phillips, PhD provides an overview of the development and importance of executive functioning (EF) for all facets of our lives throughout the lifespan. She gives specific examples of how EF is manifested and assessed, and a discussion of interventions aimed at improving EF to provide biological foundations for school readiness and social competence. This presentation explores the repertoire of measures for, and various evidences of, the importance and development of EF in children across their lifespan, taking into consideration wide individual variations. New tools for enhancing EF are discussed in conjunction with educational and policy implications given this new knowledge.