Children Can Count Without Numbers

Study suggests that kids have innate math abilities
By Katherine Thompson,  Newser Staff
Posted Aug 19, 2008 8:30 AM CDT
Children Can Count Without Numbers
Some studies have found that children who have no words for numbers are not able to perform mathematical tasks, but a new study contradicts those findings.   (Flickr)

A study sure to fan a fiery disagreement among developmental psychologists has found that children can count objects even if their language lacks words for the numbers involved. Researchers found that Australian Aboriginal children, who know words for only a few small numbers, did just as well as English-speaking children on counting tasks, Wired reports.

Previous studies had suggested that children growing up in societies that don't use counting words had problems developing number skills. "We're born with the ability to see the world numerically just as we're born to see the world in color," said the study's lead scientist.
(More mathematics stories.)

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