Welcome !
We study how young children learn through playful experiences that build on the strengths, knowledge, and everyday practices of families and communities. We partner with children, parents, and teachers to co-create games and joyful experiences that strengthen relationships, learning, and belonging.
CUENTA means both “to count” and “to tell” in Spanish – capturing our approach of building from families’ stories to support young children’s early math development in meaningful ways.
Lab Director
Vanessa N. Bermudez, Ph.D.
I am an Assistant Professor of Psychological Science at Loyola Marymount University and Director of the Cuenta Lab.
My work sits at the intersection of developmental psychology and education, with a focus on early childhood learning and development. Across my research, I create play-based educational programs that bridge developmental science with children’s everyday practices to strengthen connections across home, school, and community contexts. Much of my work has been conducted in partnership with Latine families and communities.
Topics we Study
Meet our Research Team
The lab brings together undergraduate research assistants who share an interest in understanding and supporting young children’s learning across the spaces where they live, learn, and play. We view families as equal partners in their children’s education and value their expertise in the co-design of educational tools and programs. Through this strength-based approach, we aim to advance more equitable learning opportunities, particularly for children and families from historically marginalized communities, including low-income and immigrant families.
Current Research Projects
Number Ball
Number Ball integrates mathematics into soccer games on redesigned school playgrounds. Our research examines how these playful experiences can support children’s math learning and attitudes toward mathematics.
A family math project that partners with Latine caregivers and children to co-design playful math activities grounded in their everyday routines, cultural practices, and ways of playing. The project explores how building on families’ experiences supports early math learning at home.
SABER en Familia
A series of Family School Nights that bring families and educators together around math, science, and biliteracy. Families share their knowledge, experiences, and cultural practices, which inform the development of hands-on learning activities for families and the classroom.