Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 23, 2025

Multimedia Battery for Assessment of Cognitive and Basic Skills in Mathematics BM-PROMA
10:58

Multimedia Battery for Assessment of Cognitive and Basic Skills in Mathematics BM-PROMA

Published on: August 28, 2021

4.6K

Exploring effects of an early math intervention: The importance of parent-child interaction

Andrew Ribner1, Alex M Silver1, Leanne Elliott1

  • 1University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.

Child Development
|November 2, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Playing number games significantly boosted young children's math skills. Parent training in approximate number system (ANS) skills unexpectedly led to poorer child math performance, linked to home environment changes.

Area of Science:

  • Child development
  • Educational psychology
  • Cognitive science

Background:

  • Early childhood mathematical skills are crucial for academic success.
  • Parental involvement and home numeracy environments significantly influence children's math learning.
  • Interventions targeting parents or children can potentially enhance early math abilities.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of parent-child number games versus parent-only math skill training on children's mathematical abilities.
  • To compare the effectiveness of different intervention strategies, including number games, shape games, and approximate number system (ANS) training.
  • To examine the long-term effects and mediating factors, such as home numeracy environments, on children's math skill development.

Main Methods:

  • 162 parent-child dyads participated, with children aged approximately 4 years.
  • Dyads were randomly assigned to one of five conditions: number game, shape game, parent-only ANS training, parent-only trivia, or a control group.
  • Interventions were conducted twice weekly for 8 weeks, with follow-up assessments after an additional 8 weeks without training.

Main Results:

  • Children in the number game condition showed significant gains (over 15% SD) in mathematical skills compared to the control group.
  • The positive effects observed in the number game group diminished after 8 weeks without intervention.
  • Children whose parents received ANS training underperformed compared to the control group, with changes in the home numeracy environment partially explaining this outcome.

Conclusions:

  • Engaging in number games is an effective strategy for improving early childhood mathematical skills.
  • Parent-only training in specific math skills like ANS may not directly translate to improved child math performance and could potentially have negative effects.
  • The home numeracy environment plays a critical role in mediating the impact of interventions on children's math development.

More Related Videos

Problem-Solving Before Instruction PS-I: A Protocol for Assessment and Intervention in Students with Different Abilities10:26

Problem-Solving Before Instruction PS-I: A Protocol for Assessment and Intervention in Students with Different Abilities

Published on: September 11, 2021

4.0K
Universal Screening for Prevention of Reading, Writing, and Math Disabilities in Spanish14:43

Universal Screening for Prevention of Reading, Writing, and Math Disabilities in Spanish

Published on: July 18, 2020

8.1K

Related Concept Videos

Environmental Influences on Intelligence01:29

Environmental Influences on Intelligence

Despite the strong genetic influence on traits like intelligence, environmental factors significantly shape outcomes. For example, while over 90% of height variation is due to genetic differences, environmental factors such as nutrition also have a notable impact. Similarly, for intelligence, changes in a child's surroundings can significantly alter their IQ. Research shows that enriched environments boost children's academic success and help them develop key cognitive skills. Children...
394
Autism Spectrum Disorder01:19

Autism Spectrum Disorder

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition marked by persistent deficits in social communication and interaction alongside restrictive and repetitive behaviors or interests. ASD is sometimes accompanied by intellectual impairment.
These core symptoms manifest differently among individuals, ranging from mild to severe. The disorder's complexity extends beyond its clinical presentation, encompassing a diverse range of biological, cognitive, and sociocultural influences.
187
Information Processing Approach01:30

Information Processing Approach

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...
103
Socioemotional Development during Infancy01:30

Socioemotional Development during Infancy

Socio-emotional development in infancy is primarily shaped by early emotional responses and social connections, with temperament playing a central role. Temperament refers to the consistent patterns in an individual's emotional and behavioral responses, observable even in infancy. By examining temperament, researchers can better understand an infant's unique ways of interacting with the world, influencing subsequent personality and socio-emotional growth.
Primary Temperament Types
90
Gene-Environment Interactions01:20

Gene-Environment Interactions

Gene expression is a dynamic process that is significantly influenced by environmental factors. This interaction underlies the complex nature of biological development and the phenotypic differences observed among individuals, even among those with identical genetic makeups. Factors such as radiation, temperature, behavior, nutrition, and stress play pivotal roles in determining how genes are expressed. The concept of the reaction range is central to understanding this interaction. It posits...
408
Modeling in Therapy01:26

Modeling in Therapy

Modeling, a key technique in therapy, uses observational learning to help clients acquire and practice new skills by watching therapists demonstrate desired behaviors. This approach, rooted in Albert Bandura's concept of vicarious learning, plays a significant role in therapeutic interventions for various psychological conditions, including social anxiety, ADHD, and depression.
Participant Modeling
Participant modeling involves therapists demonstrating calm and effective behaviors in...
138