Finger counting training enhances addition performance in kindergarteners
2025

Finger Counting Training Improves Addition Skills in Kindergarteners

Sample size: 328 publication 10 minutes Evidence: high

Author Information

Author(s): Poletti Céline, Krenger Marie, Létang Marie, Hennequin Brune, Thevenot Catherine

Primary Institution: Institute of Psychology University of Lausanne

Hypothesis

Can finger counting training improve addition performance in kindergarteners who do not use this strategy?

Conclusion

Training finger counting significantly enhances kindergarteners' addition skills, especially for those who initially do not use their fingers.

Supporting Evidence

  • Children who underwent finger counting training improved their addition accuracy from 37.3% to 77.1%.
  • The control group showed only a slight improvement from 39.6% to 47.8%.
  • The training effect was particularly strong for children who did not initially use finger counting.

Takeaway

Teaching kids to count on their fingers helps them get better at adding numbers. It's like giving them a special tool to solve math problems!

Methodology

The study involved pre- and post-testing of kindergarteners on addition tasks, with one group receiving finger counting training and another serving as a control.

Potential Biases

Potential bias due to the involvement of teachers in implementing the training protocol.

Limitations

The study's findings may not generalize to children with developmental disorders or disabilities, as none were included in the sample.

Participant Demographics

328 kindergarteners aged 5 to 6 years, mainly White European, with 152 girls.

Statistical Information

P-Value

p<0.001

Statistical Significance

p<0.001

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1111/cdev.14146

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