The information-processing theory of cognitive development centers on fundamental mental processes, including attention, memory, and problem-solving skills. Researchers in this field examine how cognitive abilities, such as working memory, evolve and influence children's overall development. Studies indicate that children with stronger working memory tend to excel in reading comprehension, math, and problem-solving compared to peers with less efficient memory skills. Low working memory is also linked to a higher risk of high school dropout, even after accounting for socioeconomic factors and IQ.

Another key cognitive process in development is executive function, which highlights higher-order skills like planning, self-control, and adaptive problem-solving. In school, tasks requiring children to stay seated or wait their turn depend on self-regulation and the ability to inhibit one's automatic responses, both of which are parts of executive function. Notably, early executive function skills are predictive of school readiness and the development of social-cognitive skills, such as understanding that others have their own thoughts and feelings.

Parents and educators play an essential role in fostering executive function by modeling self-control and offering support. Working memory training, aerobic exercise, and mindfulness practices can also enhance executive function. Engaging children in imaginative role-play tasks, like pretending to be a character, has been shown to boost executive function in young children.

Unlike Piaget's stage-based model, the information-processing approach views cognitive development as continuous, examining how cognitive processes operate at various life stages. This perspective allows researchers to explore whether children think similarly to adults in specific contexts, such as wishful thinking. This type of thinking reflects a blend of reasoning and emotional influence, shedding light on the developmental trajectory of decision-making and belief systems.

By analyzing such processes across life stages, the information-processing framework provides a more granular understanding of cognitive maturation, highlighting the dynamic interplay between developmental changes and individual experiences.