Not all babies are in the same boat: Exploring the effects of socioeconomic status, parental attitudes, and activities during the 2020 COVID- 19 pandemic on early executive functions

Early executive functions (EFs) lay the foundations for academic and social outcomes. In this parent- report study of 575 UK- based 8- to 36 month olds (218 fol-lowed longitudinally), we investigate how variation in the home environment before and during the 2020 pan-demic relates to infants’ emerging EFs. Parent- infant enriching activities were positively associated with infant Cognitive Executive Function (CEF) (encom-passing inhibitory control, working memory, cognitive flexibility). During the most- restrictive UK lockdown— but not subsequently— socioeconomic status (SES) was positively associated with levels of parent- infant enrich-ing activities. Parents who regard fostering early learn-ing, affection, and attachment as important were more likely to engage in parent- infant enriching activities, yet there was no significant pathway from parental at-titudes or SES to CEF via activities. Infant screen use was negatively associated with CEF and Regulation. Screen use fully mediated the effect of SES on CEF, and partially mediated the effect of SES on regulation.