Most children start counting after the age of two, after observing much tallying done by parents, siblings and television characters. By watching others count, 18-month-old babies acquire a sense of numbers long before they can speak, according to a study by Michael Siegal of the University of Sheffield in England. The babies heard a voice counting up to six as the video showed a hand either pointing to six fish in turn or moving between two of the fish. They spent more time looking at the sequence showing correct counting, indicating that they preferred it and, therefore, knew how to keep score. “Infants are much more aware of objects than we give them credit for,” Siegal says.

This article was originally published with the title Mental Math in Infants.

2 Comments

1. 1. saanvi 04:44 AM 7/17/11

   Boosting memory and learning is a complicated process in children. Enhancing learning in children depends on how well they remember their lessons and later recalls them to perform well in the tests. Learning and memorization go hand in hand and is mutually dependent.
   
   http://funnyandspicy.com/pretty-little-angel-masters-on-geographical-skill-may-god-bless-her
   
   

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2. 2. sunnystrobe 10:06 AM 7/22/11

   There' s safety in numbers, even for babes! It adds up! Makes for better survival instincts, has a connection with moorishness, especially when it comes to nutrition!
   (think: berries! the more, the merrier..)
   Interesting, too, that our neotenous,'babyish', primate nature makes us retain this our primeval interest in 'numbers' for the rest of our natural life,from nursery rhymes to numerology!

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