Unravelling the pathways among relational language, number ordering skills, and number line estimation performance in Hong Kong kindergarten children

Prior research has suggested the links from relational language and number ordering skills to number line estimation performance (Chan et al., 2022; Xu, 2019)—an important predictor of math achievement (Schneider et al., 2018). To delineate the developmental pathways among these constructs beyond Western samples, we used a longitudinal dataset collected with Hong Kong kindergartners (N = 255; 50 % male, 50 % female) to test the predictive links among these constructs. We found that children’s relational language knowledge (βs = .21; ps < .01), but not number ordering skills, consistently predicted their later number line estimation performance. Children’s relational language knowledge did not significantly predict their later number ordering skills. Number ordering skills were not a significant mediator between relational language knowledge and number line estimation performance. Specifically, children’s early relational language knowledge did not predict their intermediate number ordering skills, and they in turn did not predict later number line estimation performance. The findings highlighted the importance of relational language in supporting children’s number line estimation performance, informing future research on educational practices. However, at least in the Hong Kong sample, relational language knowledge did not predict children’s number ordering skills, and these skills did not predict their number line estimation performance. The study underscored the importance of examining mathematical skills development beyond the Western countries, and the possibility of different developmental pathways among diverse populations. Understanding these differences is crucial for designing culturally situated, inclusive math instruction that effectively promotes all children’s development.