Does my child have math talent?
This is one of the important questions of parents. Studies show that the reason for the difference in children’s math ability is the difference in their genetic structure. Of course, this is not a reason to ignore the role of the environment. With proper training and proper planning, this ability can be improved. Heredity does not mean that everything is unchangeable.
Mathematics is one of the subjects in which proper performance has always been of high importance for students and their parents.
Mathematical gifted students can be considered as people who use different mathematical thinking in terms of quality.
Many of us believe that some are born mathematicians. Not being good at math is not necessarily about not being able to solve problems. Psychologists and neuroscience experts believe that there are people who have high mathematical intelligence but face problems in learning.
This issue can be influenced by psychological, physical, environmental and social factors. What is involved in examining a person’s ability to solve math problems is to conduct an intelligence test and measure these people in terms of their mental and physical health and their social and academic performance.
In a study of children at UCL, King’s College London and Oxford, half of the genes involved in reading ability are also involved in math comprehension. Scientists in the field of behavioral genetics, considering that many genes play a role in these two characteristics, have pointed out the complex relationship between environment and genetics.
This study was done with two perspectives, by examining the genetic similarities of thousands of twins as well as examining the millions of differences in their DNA structure, and finally by analyzing the obtained data, the genetic points affecting math ability and reading ability were identified.
(Dr. Oliver Davies, a member of the study of the role of genetics in mathematical intelligence from UCL University).
✅What is mathematical talent?
It refers to a unique set of mathematical abilities that reveals the possibility of successful performance in a mathematical activity.
✅Features of math gifted children:
1- Children who have extremely high natural (or instinctive) abilities in understanding mathematical concepts and therefore differ from their peers in the way they observe, understand and learn mathematics.
2-These children are more capable in mathematics (such as mathematical comprehension ability, exceptional memory, quick mastery of content and structure, unusual solutions, preference for abstract thinking, interest and enjoyment of mathematics, success in identifying patterns and relationships, concentration range prolongation, generalization and inversion of mathematical processes) are different from others.
3- These abilities are manifested in general personality traits (such as intellectual curiosity, willingness to try, pleasure and interest in solving problems, perseverance and tolerance of failure, ability to engage in independent self-directed activities, and desire for challenging tasks).
✅Ways to strengthen mathematical intelligence
As we said, there are solutions that can be used to strengthen math intelligence. For example with:
1- Using intellectual games such as chess, Monopoly, Doz, Domino, Blockas
2- Using an abacus to strengthen quick calculation skills, memorizing numbers and individual analysis power
3- Visit math museums to learn about the history of inventions, learn from the lives of famous people and get information about scientific findings.
4- Reading the book
5-Study about galaxies, celestial bodies, eclipses.
So if we want to have a short summary; We must say that mathematical intelligence is innate, but it is affected by environmental conditions and the physical and mental health of a person, and it is possible to strengthen mathematical talent or weaken it (not using the inherent ability due to environmental conditions)!
