Number concept development in early childhood

Over many years, cognitive and educational researchers have conducted a range of investigations to explore how children’s understanding of number concepts develops across early childhood, defined as birth to 8 years. This research has shed light on the many complexities in researching and understanding the development of children’s early numerical understandings (English & Mulligan, 2013; Geary, 2013; Kolkman, Kroesbergen, & Leseman, 2013). This chapter draws broadly on two fields of research. Cognitive research on child development and neurocognitive research which has become increasingly prevalent since the 1990s with technological advances meaning researchers can reliably and affordably investigate the neural processes associated with cognition..