Years of research and conducted experiments have yielded data to suggest that by the age of 5 or 6, young children possess the ability to solve arithmetical problems. Arithmetic is the branch of mathematics dealing with the properties and manipulation of numbers. While we know that young children possess the ability to complete nonverbal arithmetic tasks; the extent to which age and gender impact performances on these tasks still remains in question. To assess young children's abilities to perform nonverbal tasks, we conducted an experiment and observed 29 toddlers,13 males and 16 females, an average age of 37.7 months old from the Douglas daycare. Using a shoebox, paper mats, and toy dinosaurs, a game was played in which young children were instructed to demonstrate a series of matching and calculation tasks. The results of the study indicated that children at the age of 4 and older perform better on both the matching and calculation tasks than children younger than the age of 4. The results also concluded that males performed better on the matching tasks than females. .
Research and studies have corroborated claims that by the age of 5 or 6, young children possess the ability to ability to solve arithmetical problems. Arithmetic is the branch of mathematics dealing with the properties and manipulation of numbers. As it pertains to preschoolers, it is a young child's ability to add, subtract, count, and perform other basic numerical transformations. Children develop their mathematical capabilities in their everyday explorations of the world. Studying the development of early mathematical capabilities provides a better understanding of young children's emerging academic competencies as well as their ability to comprehend and model instruction. Earlier studies have supported the importance of development in mathematical capabilities of children. .
Arithmetic problems containing larger sets of numbers may be one of the reasons why children fail at arithmetic tasks.