Okay, I do understand that this word probably led to all sorts of sometimes unsatisfied demands. Sorry.

 

But, it does, in fact, display a very important innate mathematical ability, which the child has now discovered words to describe. In fact, researchers have shown, at as early as six months old, the child seems to have an inner sense of more and less (note, not in vocabulary or words).

 

For example, if a six months old baby sees three shadows of puppets behind a screen, he or she will expect to see three puppets when the screen is lifted. If, instead, there are five puppets, the baby will show surprise.

 

Except that some babies don’t.