Does off-campus training encourage numeracy skills and social-emotional skills? Evidence from China

The governance of off-campus training has emerged as a prominent topic of research; however, its exploration in the context of preschool education remains relatively limited. This study addresses this gap by investigating the impact of off-campus training participation on the development of 644 preschoolers selected from 17 kindergartens in Beijing. Results derived from propensity score matching analysis reveal that the influence of participation on the early numeracy and socioemotional skills development of preschoolers was generally nonsignificant. Further subsample analysis indicates that engagement in off-campus sports training notably enhances preschoolers' early numeracy skills, whereas participation in other forms of off-campus training exhibits no significant impact. Ultimately, this study makes recommendations for scientific childcare from the government, kindergartens and parents.