A recent study found that parents who are good at math tend to have children who are good at math, suggesting that mathematical acumen is passed down through generations. For example, parents’ test scores proved a good predictor of how their children would perform on the same test, and parents and children proved to have a similar intuition for estimating numbers.
Anxious about math? Your anxieties may transfer to your child. See how to avoid this.
New study suggests math ability is inherited.
The researchers believe that this tendency comes from both hereditary and environmental factors, and that the mathematical knowledge is both knowingly and unknowingly passed down to the children. Knowing of the existence of this inter generational transfer can have a large impact how both parents and educators teach their students math in the future.
The striking resemblance between the two generations on mathematical ability was simply magical to behold on a real time basis. It was almost like telepathy taking place across the eras.
Laura Lurns · Learning Success expert
Key takeaways
- A study took place that linked parent’s math skills to the math skills of their children.
- This research could play a key role in how parents and educators teach children math.
- The research was done to shown that children are quick to succeed in math if their parents have similar abilities.
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