A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal

The Development of Mathematical Performance From Kindergarten to Grade 1: The Role of Children's Mathematical Liking and Parents' Beliefs and Activities




AuthorsSilinskas, Gintautas; Bourque, Taeko; Susperreguy, Maria Ines; Lefevre, Jo-anne; Raiziene, Saule

PublisherWiley

Publication year2025

Journal: Infant and Child Development

Article numbere70071

Volume34

Issue6

ISSN1522-7227

eISSN1522-7219

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1002/icd.70071

Publication's open availability at the time of reportingOpen Access

Publication channel's open availability Partially Open Access publication channel

Web address https://doi.org/10.1002/icd.70071

Self-archived copy’s web addresshttps://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/508255222

Self-archived copy's licenceCC BY NC ND

Self-archived copy's versionPublisher`s PDF


Abstract

The transition from kindergarten to formal schooling is an important period for examining children's developing mathematical performance. We studied reciprocal associations among children's mathematical performance, parent factors (i.e., numeracy activities, beliefs about children's mathematical skills), and child factors (i.e., mathematics liking). Lithuanian children (N = 341; 180 girls) and their parents participated at three time points: end of kindergarten (T1; M-age = 6.87 years), beginning of Grade 1 (T2), and end of Grade 1 (T3). Reciprocal cross-lagged associations between parent- and child-related factors showed that children's mathematical performance positively predicted parental beliefs [beta(T1-T2) = 0.247, beta(T2-T3) = 0.280] and negatively predicted numeracy activities [beta(T1-T2) = -0.227, beta(T2-T3) = -0.110] during the transition from kindergarten to Grade 1, and during Grade 1. Children's mathematical performance positively predicted their mathematics liking at the end of Grade 1 (beta(T2-T3) = 0.138). The results emphasise the role of children's mathematical performance in shaping parents' involvement and beliefs about children's mathematical learning and their children's mathematics liking.


Downloadable publication

This is an electronic reprint of the original article.
This reprint may differ from the original in pagination and typographic detail. Please cite the original version.




Funding information in the publication
The work of Gintautas Silinskas was supported by grants (#296082, #331525, #336148, and #358041) and the EDUCA flagship (#358924 and #358947) from the Academy of Finland.


Last updated on 19/01/2026 08:44:54 AM