Vic Simms is a Professor of Developmental Psychology at Ulster University. Her recent research interests have been in understanding the influence of the home environment on early mathematical development, understanding influences on development from cross-country perspectives and developmental differences (for those children born preterm or with genetic conditions). This episode is part of my Research in Action mini-series, where I interview a researcher from the Mathematics Education Centre at Loughborough University about their chosen area of interest, and the implications for maths teaching and learning. You can access the show-notes here: mrbartonmaths.com/blog/research-in-action-25 Time-stamps: Introduction to today’s topic. (6:29) How parents engage with their children. (11:20) Differences between the quality of the interactions and the frequency. (15:37) The ideal combination of frequency and quality. (19:58) The home mathematics environment in China. (24:35) The hierarchy of what parents should do for their environment. (29:08) The role of shape and space in mathematics development. (34:31) The maths environment at home and literacy. (41:53) The role of first impressions in learning and performance. (49:25) Teacher perception of a student. (52:51) How parents can help their children think more intentionally. (59:04) The weak relationship between mathematics environment and learning outcomes. (1:02:19)