Young Children's Oral Counting and Numerical Abilities

유아의 수세기능력과 수리능력과의 관계에 관한 연구

This study investigated the relation between oral counting and numerical abilities of young children. The subjects were 33 four-year-old children and 47 five-year-old children from 2 preschools and 2 kindergartens in Kwangju. The test was individually administered in an empty classroom or a hallway by using counting buttons and number cards. The data were analyzed by t-test, Pearsons correlation and multiple regression analysis. The results indicated that (1) older children did better than younger children in oral counting. (2) but the older children did not do better than the younger children in the numerical abilities, (3) the numerical abilities of young children differed according to the degree of oral counting, and (4) the oral counting of young children was one significant predictor of numerical abilities. Findings support the inclusion of activities for oral counting in kindergartens.