Developing number play to prevent math difficulties

This study aims to propose number play in kindergarten to prevent difficulties in elementary school mathematics. Previous studies report that numeracy skills in kindergarten are predictive of math difficulties in elementary school. Therefore, if numeracy skills can be improved early on in kindergarten, preventing math difficulties in elementary school becomes possible. A curriculum-based measurement has been used in kindergarten as a test of early numeracy, and quantity identification and missing numbers were items that predict math difficulties in elementary school. While scholars have reported peer tutoring as an intervention to improve math performance, whether or not it is appropriate for young children in kindergarten remains questionable. Therefore, developing number play activities that incorporate game-like elements and are played for leisure is necessary. Thus, the current study proposes the Perfect Match Game, Let us Find the Lost Numbers, and Card Battle with the objective of improving scores for quantity identification and missing numbers.