Using Fingers Can Boost Kids’ Math Skills by 40%
Some educators view finger counting as a sign of mathematical struggle in children, while others see it as evidence of advanced numerical understanding. New research indicates that teaching finger counting can significantly enhance children’s arithmetic skills.
Swiss and French researchers explored whether finger counting could aid primary school children with math problems. Adults often avoid using fingers for basic calculations, associating this behavior with cognitive issues. However, children under eight who use finger counting demonstrate a sophisticated understanding of quantities, recognizing that they can be represented in various ways.
The study, published in the journal Child Development, involved 328 kindergarteners aged five to six in France, assessed on simple addition tasks. Participants were recruited through their teachers for an experiment comprising a pre-test, two weeks of training, a post-test, and a delayed post-test. Results showed a marked improvement in trained children who initially did not use finger counting, with correct responses rising from 37% to 77%. In contrast, non-finger users in the control group showed no significant gains.
Dr. Catherine Thevenot, the study’s lead researcher, emphasized the importance of these findings, stating, “Finger calculation training is effective for over 75% of kindergartners. The next step is to support the remaining 25% who didn’t respond as well to the intervention.”