Parents could encourage their kids' activities in maths at a young age after it was revealed that toddlers are able to grasp basic numeracy skills.

Scientists have discovered kids at 18 months old are able to recognise basic arithmetic, showing that they are able to start counting younger than previously anticipated.

As part of the research, as published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B, 36 children aged one-and-a-half years old preferred to watch a video depicting the correct counting of six fish, while those aged 15 months old did not.

Professor Virginia Slaughter, of the University of Queensland, said results from a study indicated that "infants start to acquire the abstract principles governing correct counting prior to producing any counting behaviour".

She noted that between 15 and 18 months, toddlers begin to understand the "abstract principles governing correct counting" as a result of listening and watching their parents and older siblings work with maths.

This comes after Engineer Ireland's director general John Power emphasised the importance of getting young children involved in maths in an article in Tech Central in order to boost the number of secondary school kids taking it for their Leaving Certificate.

Written by Donal Walsh 

Comments