The Development of Addition and Subtraction Abilities Prior to Formal Schooling in Arithmetic

Young children with no formal schooling in arithmetic possess some understanding of addition and subtraction. In this chapter we summarize research on the young child’s understanding of addition and subtraction. We then examine the ability of Piagetian theory to account for these research findings. Finally, we consider some of the consequences of assuming that the abilities to count and to take advantage of counting procedures represent a universal cognitive ability.