The Washington Post – Nancy Szokan 
Adults tend to want their children to outgrow using their fingers to solve number problems. “The finger technique is considered to be a less intelligent way of counting and calculating,” Aditya Singhal writes on math-blog.com. “Most adults think of it as a technique that might hamper the developments of the kid’s brain and consider it to be a childish trick which renders answers but does not help in understanding.” But they’re wrong, Singhal goes on to say, making an argument that seems to be getting increasing credence in the world of mathematics education. The reasoning goes like this: Fingers are useful (and always accessible) visual aids; visual aids have repeatedly been shown to aid learning; many students struggle with mathematics; it’s nothing but conventional thinking that prevents teachers and parents from offering this (literal) helping hand.(more)