Abstract: The Unexpected Location Task, the Unexpected Content Task, and other three different types of executive function (EF) tasks were used to investigate the relationship between EF and theory of mind (ToM) in 60 children at 2 ages (3 and 4 years). Results suggested that performance in the EF tasks combined with working memory and inhibitory control could well predict performance of the ability to discriminate self and other’s mental state; In the early development of false belief understanding, the relations between executive function and theory of mind focus on: the relation between understanding of self false belief and the executive function combined with working memory and inhibitory control ; the relation between understanding of other’s false belief and working memory executive function

Key words: executive function, theory of mind, false belief, working memory, inhibitory control