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Everyday Mathematical Activities of Babies and Toddlers in Early Childhood Education Settings.

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Title: Everyday Mathematical Activities of Babies and Toddlers in Early Childhood Education Settings.
Authors: MacDonald, Amy1 (AUTHOR) amacdonald@csu.edu.au
Source: Early Childhood Education Journal. Mar2026, Vol. 54 Issue 3, p1041-1051. 11p.
Subject Terms: *Early childhood education, *Qualitative research, *Counting, Mathematics, Social interaction, Gaging, Toddlers
Abstract: This study explores the everyday mathematical activities of babies and toddlers in Australian early childhood education settings. The qualitative study gathered data within six different early childhood education settings in varying geographical locations. The participants included babies and toddlers aged 2–40 months and their educators. The researcher spent up to 2 days in each site, gathering observational data in the forms of continuous video recordings, video and photographic observations, and field notes. In order to describe the mathematics noticed within the observations, the data were analysed using Bishop's (1988) framework of six "universal mathematical activities" – counting, measuring, locating, designing, playing, and explaining. Six vignettes are presented and analysed in relation to this framework of mathematical activities. The vignettes demonstrate the mathematical opportunities that were noticed in the everyday activities and interactions of educators and children, and the ways in which the educators responded to those opportunities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Early Childhood Education Journal is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Education Research Complete
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  Data: Everyday Mathematical Activities of Babies and Toddlers in Early Childhood Education Settings.
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  Data: This study explores the everyday mathematical activities of babies and toddlers in Australian early childhood education settings. The qualitative study gathered data within six different early childhood education settings in varying geographical locations. The participants included babies and toddlers aged 2–40 months and their educators. The researcher spent up to 2 days in each site, gathering observational data in the forms of continuous video recordings, video and photographic observations, and field notes. In order to describe the mathematics noticed within the observations, the data were analysed using Bishop's (1988) framework of six "universal mathematical activities" – counting, measuring, locating, designing, playing, and explaining. Six vignettes are presented and analysed in relation to this framework of mathematical activities. The vignettes demonstrate the mathematical opportunities that were noticed in the everyday activities and interactions of educators and children, and the ways in which the educators responded to those opportunities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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  Data: <i>Copyright of Early Childhood Education Journal is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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        Value: 10.1007/s10643-025-01899-7
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      – Code: eng
        Text: English
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      – SubjectFull: Qualitative research
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      – SubjectFull: Counting
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      – SubjectFull: Mathematics
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      – SubjectFull: Social interaction
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      – SubjectFull: Gaging
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      – SubjectFull: Toddlers
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              Text: Mar2026
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