Early childhood is a crucial period for developing children’s goal-directed skills, yet the factors that drive their motivation, persistence, and learning success remain an open question. This project aims to: (a) explore children’s understanding of effective goal-directed strategies, (b) examine how these strategies foster motivation to learn and persistence in achieving goals, and (c) investigate how these findings can inform the design of effective interventions. In this study, children will engage in child-friendly stories and games during two 20-minute sessions. Through a series of these studies, we aim to provide insights that contribute to their cognitive development and strengthen school readiness skills.