The role of informal mathematics in the development of mathematical thinking: A systematic review in early childhood
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1 Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú, Lima, PERU2 Universidad de Girona, Girona, SPAIN* Corresponding Author
Abstract
Informal mathematics refers to the mathematical knowledge children construct through everyday experiences before formal schooling. Although recognized as foundation for later mathematical learning, no systematic review has examined how this research is distributed across content domains, age groups, and methods. This study presents a preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analysis-based systematic review of 48 papers on informal mathematics in early childhood (0-6 years), published between 1982 and 2023 in Web of Science and Scopus. Results show that 83.7% of the papers were published since 2013, mostly using quantitative methods. Most studies focused on numerical thinking in children aged 3 to 6, while algebraic, metric, and stochastic thinking remain underexplored, despite evidence that informal mathematical competence is multidimensional. Only 10.6% focused exclusively on children aged 0 to 3. These gaps constrain the design of comprehensive curricula and interventions, highlighting the need for broader research across domains, younger children, play-based activities, and school-family collaboration.
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Article Type: Literature Review
EURASIA J Math Sci Tech Ed, Volume 22, Issue 10, October 2026, Article No: em2930
https://doi.org/10.29333/ejmste/19402
Publication date: 25 Sep 2026
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Article Downloads: 2
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How to cite this article
APA
Malaspina, M., & Alsina, Á. (2026). The role of informal mathematics in the development of mathematical thinking: A systematic review in early childhood. Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, 22(10), em2930. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejmste/19402
Vancouver
Malaspina M, Alsina Á. The role of informal mathematics in the development of mathematical thinking: A systematic review in early childhood. EURASIA J Math Sci Tech Ed. 2026;22(10):em2930. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejmste/19402
AMA
Malaspina M, Alsina Á. The role of informal mathematics in the development of mathematical thinking: A systematic review in early childhood. EURASIA J Math Sci Tech Ed. 2026;22(10), em2930. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejmste/19402
Chicago
Malaspina, Martín, and Ángel Alsina. "The role of informal mathematics in the development of mathematical thinking: A systematic review in early childhood". Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education 2026 22 no. 10 (2026): em2930. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejmste/19402
Harvard
Malaspina, M., and Alsina, Á. (2026). The role of informal mathematics in the development of mathematical thinking: A systematic review in early childhood. Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, 22(10), em2930. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejmste/19402
MLA
Malaspina, Martín et al. "The role of informal mathematics in the development of mathematical thinking: A systematic review in early childhood". Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, vol. 22, no. 10, 2026, em2930. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejmste/19402