Finger counting can enhance math skills in kindergarteners, new study finds

A new study published in “Child Development” revealed that teaching finger counting strategies to kindergarten children significantly enhances their arithmetic skills.

Conducted by researchers from the University of Lausanne in Switzerland and Lea.fr, Editions Nathan in Paris, France, the study challenges the belief held by some educators that finger counting signals difficulty with math concepts.

The research, involving 328 five- and six-year-old children in France, tested their ability to solve basic addition problems.

The findings showed that children who were taught to use finger counting strategies experienced notable improvements in their math performance.