Voorbereidende Rekenvaardigheid en Positionering in Nederland: De Rol van Sekse en Leeftijd

Abstract

Aim: In this cross-sectional study is investigated whether the level of early numeracy skills of young children is related to where they live in the Netherlands (position) and whether gender and age are moderators in this association. Methods: The sample consisted of 334 Dutch boys and 351 Dutch girls (N = 685) between the ages of 45 and 87 months. Participating schools were selected using a call round. Teachers from the participating schools randomly selected participants for the sample. The level of early numeracy skills was measured using the Utrechtse Getalbegrip Toets-3 (UGT-3; Van Luit & Van de Rijt). The statistical methods used are the one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and factorial ANOVA. Results: Results showed that there is no significant association between the total score on the UGT-3 of young children and their position in the Netherlands. In addition, the strength of the relationship was not different for boys compared with girls, and for children in different age-groups. Conversely, compared to children from the South of the Netherlands, children from the North and the Middle of the Netherlands scored higher exclusively on the subtest ‘Measurement’ of the UGT-3. Conclusion: No relationship between the total level of early numeracy skills of young children and their position in the Netherlands is found. Consequently, gender and age cannot be moderators in the association. Conversely, an association between skills concerning the subject ‘measurement’ and position in the Netherlands is found.