Developing Math Skills in Early Childhood

This brief presents a new approach to support the development of early math skills in young children. The approach synthesizes the influence of parents, home environment, and children’s health care providers. The brief draws on research to explain (1) why it is important to support early math development, (2) what early math is (and isn’t), (3) how early math and literacy development intertwine, and (4) the important role parents play in their child’s development. The brief ends with a description of a promising approach to support early childhood math development that leverages communication between parents and health care providers and book sharing during well-child primary care visits.