According to the ChildUp philosophy, the first years of life are the most crucial for building a flexible and agile brain. We often discuss how parents are a child's first teachers and how early experiences set the stage for "school readiness." However, a fascinating and somewhat troubling new study from Rutgers University reveals that even at a very young age, children’s learning can be side-tracked by deep-seated gender stereotypes.

The study, recently published in the journal Developmental Science, suggests that when it comes to math, children aren't just forming opinions about who is "smart"—they are actually choosing who to believe based on gender.

The "brilliance bias" in action

For years, researchers have known about the "brilliance bias"—the tendency for children (some as young as six) to associate high intelligence and math ability with men and boys. But the Rutgers study takes this further. It found that young children are actually more inclined to believe incorrect math information from a man than accurate information from a woman.

"It’s already been determined that male math bias exists, but this is the first time that we’re seeing gender bias directly influencing how children learn math," says Kathleen Cracknell, a lead author of the study.

It’s about learning, not just attitudes

This discovery is a wake-up call for parents and educators. It shows that gender bias doesn’t just shape what children believe about their own abilities (the "I'm not a math person" myth); it also influences how they process new information.

In the experiments, researchers tested children's ability to perform numerical estimation—a foundational math skill that predicts long-term academic achievement. The results showed that the gender of the "teacher" providing the numbers affected how children estimated and understood those quantities.

The impact on school readiness

If children are unconsciously filtering out accurate information from female role models—be they mothers, teachers, or peers—it could create an early "learning gap" that persists throughout their education.

How parents can counteract math bias

• Be a diverse role model: Parents are the most influential teachers. If you are a mother, don't be afraid to show your child that you enjoy and excel at math. If you are a father, actively praise the math skills of the women in your child's life.
• Foster a growth mindset: Remind your children that math is a skill developed through effort and practice, not a "gift" tied to gender or innate intellect.
• Introduce math early and often: Use educational games (board games, puzzles, and counting games) to make math fun and neutral. When children see math as a fun, everyday activity shared by everyone, stereotypes have less room to take root.
• Highlight female scientists and mathematicians: Read books or watch programs that feature women in STEM. Seeing "real-life" examples helps break the "brilliance bias" before it becomes a fixed belief.

The ChildUp takeaway

Every healthy newborn is ready to excel at anything. By being aware of how gender stereotypes can influence our children’s "brain switches," we can ensure they remain open to learning from everyone—and that their own potential remains limitless.

Picture: Children are choosing who to believe based on gender (ChildUp / Gemini)

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