Mathematical Intervention with Latin American Families and Young
Children's Outcomes
Abstract
The development of early numeracy skills takes place within the home and
school environments. Parental engagement in daily activities that
incorporate numerical concepts plays a pivotal role in maximizing
learning opportunities. In this study, we developed and implemented a
family intervention program designed to promote numerical activities in
the home setting. Our goal was to promote the use of mathematical
concepts and enhance children’s mathematical performance. Employing a
pre-post intervention design, we conducted individual cognitive
assessments on 115 Uruguayan children (mean age: 5.0 years; standard
deviation: 0.5) across various domains, including mathematics,
vocabulary, and general intelligence. We then organized three distinct
groups: one focused on numeracy, another on literacy, and the third
continued with their regular routines (business as usual). Parents
assigned to the first two groups were extended invitations to
participate in three workshops, during which they were introduced to
both theoretical and practical tools to promote the respective academic
domains. While our intervention suggested parental interest in
participating in math workshops and in promoting academic skills at
home, the results indicated that it did not produce the anticipated
effect on mathematical skills. Practical and policy: This study presents
an intervention on engaging parents in mathematical activities at home
for promoting mathematical skills in Latin America, and it highlights
challenges for designing effective interventions in the future.