Mathematical precocity in young children: a neo-Piagetian perspective

Two studies were conducted to explore mathematical precocity in young children. Study 1 examined mathematically gifted first and third graders' working memory development. The results showed that mathematically gifted children's working memory growth was similar to that expected of their age peers. Study 2 examined changes in mathematically gifted children's conceptual structures. Mathematically gifted children were roughly a year ahead of their age peers in the rate of development of conceptual structure in the numerical domain. A neo-Piagetian theory of intellectual development was used to explain these seemingly conflicting findings. The relation between working memory growth and conceptual development was discussed throughout the paper.