Building Blocks for Developing Spatial Skills: Evidence From a Large, Representative U.S. Sample

Jirout, Jamie J.; Newcombe, Nora S.

doi:10.1177/0956797614563338

Cited by 304Spatial Cognition and NavigationCognitive and developmental aspects of mathematical skillsCognitive Abilities and Testing

Building Blocks for Developing Spatial Skills: Evidence From a Large, Representative U.S. Sample

Jirout, Jamie J., Newcombe, Nora S.·2015·Psychological Science

DOI 10.1177/0956797614563338

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Abstract

There is evidence suggesting that children's play with spatial toys (e.g., puzzles and blocks) correlates with spatial development. Females play less with spatial toys than do males, which arguably accounts for males' spatial advantages; children with high socioeconomic status (SES) also show an advantage, though SES-related differences in spatial play have been less studied than gender-related differences. Using a large, nationally representative sample from the standardization study of the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence-Fourth Edition, and controlling for other cognitive abilities, we observed a specific relation between parent-reported frequency of spatial play and Block Design scores that was invariant across gender and SES. Reported spatial play was higher for boys than for girls, but controlling for spatial play did not eliminate boys' relative advantage on this subtest. SES groups did not differ in reported frequency of spatial play. Future research should consider quality as well as quantity of play, and should explore underlying mechanisms to evaluate causality.

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Authors: Jirout, J. J., & Newcombe, N. S.
Affiliations: Rhodes College (US)
Temple University (US)
Corresponding author: Jirout, Jamie J.
ORCID: Jirout, Jamie J.
Newcombe, Nora S.
Venue: Psychological Science
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Published: 2015-01-27
Volume: 26
Issue: 3
Pages: 302-310
ISSN: 0956-7976 (ISSN-L)
1467-9280
DOI: 10.1177/0956797614563338
OpenAlex: W2154372402
Cited by: 301
References: 38
Citations by year: 2026: 30 · 2025: 37 · 2024: 22 · 2023: 25 · 2022: 40 · 2021: 31 · 2020: 30 · 2019: 28 · 2018: 21 · 2017: 19 · 2016: 15 · 2015: 2 · 2013: 1
FWCI: 19.62
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Licence: journals.sagepub.com/page/policies/text-and-data-mining-license (tdm)
Locations: Psychological Science (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics: Physical Sciences › Engineering › Automotive Engineering › Spatial Cognition and Navigation
Physical Sciences › Mathematics › Statistics and Probability › Cognitive and developmental aspects of mathematical skills
Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Cognitive Abilities and Testing
Keywords: spatial ability, spatial play, gender differences, socioeconomic status, block designs, Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence, children, spatial development
MeSH terms: Games, Recreational, Child, Child Development, Child, Preschool, Female, Humans, Male, Parent-Child Relations, Sex Factors, Socioeconomic Factors, Space Perception, United States, Wechsler Scales

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Building Blocks for Developing Spatial Skills: Evidence From a Large, Representative U.S. Sample

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