Research On The Relation Between Finger Gnosis, Frequency Of Using Finger, Numeral Representations And Math Abilities Of Children From 5 To 6 Years Old

Finger is the most frequently used tool for numeral representations before children grasp symbolic numbers. However, it is still controversial on the contribution of finger to numerical cognition. And object of existing researches on the relation between finger and numerical cognition is most overseas children. This study selects 111 children from senior kindergarteners in Chinese and research the role of finger on numerical cognition based on three aspects:finger gnosis, finger movements and finger numeral representations.The first study discusses the development tendency and influencing factor of finger gnosis for 5 to 6 years old children. The result shows:(1) Finger gnosis of kindergarteners enhanced gradually form 5 to 6 years old. The development tendency is similar to overseas children; (2) Learning musical instruments about using fingers may contribute to finger gnosis of children; (3)The finger gnosis of boy is significantly lower than girl; (4) There is significantly positive correlation between finger gnosis and accuracy of numerosity.The second study discusses the effect of using fingers on addition. The result shows: (1) In simple additional problems, the accuracy of 6 years old children is significantly higher than 5 years old children; (2) 5 to 6 year old kindergartener used various strategies with different frequencies to solve addition problems, and the strategies used most is finger counting; (3) There is significantly positive correlation for 5 year old kindergartener between the frequency of using finger in simple additional problems and the accuracy of additional problems; there is significantly negative correlation for 6 year old kindergartener between the frequency of using finger in simple additional problems and the accuracy of additional problems.The third study discusses the canonical and noncanonical finger numerical representations. The result show:(1) the canonical and noncanonical finger numerical representations of 5 to 6 year old kindergartener in Chinese is consistent with the overseas kindergartener; (2) 5 to 6 year old kindergartener may have not formed a fixed processing mode to canonical and noncanonical finger numerical representations.In general, finger counting may be good to math ability of 5 year old kindergartener; the growing trend of finger gnosis of 5 to 6 year old kindergartener in Chinese is consistent with overseas kindergartener; in simple additional problems, Chinese kindergartener abandon using finger more earlily than the overseas kindergartener.