Using a soroban abacus for counting and calculation purposes has been a rite of passage that every teenager, young or older adult can recall.

In our contemporary environment whereby everything has been translated from traditional to more digital forms, it’s difficult to believe that the soroban abacus remains as relevant today, as it initially was when introduced many, many centuries ago.

Teaching young, developing minds how to count and to differentiate between singular units, tens, hundreds and thousands can be quite the challenging task.  When complex concepts of addition, subtraction and multiplication are added to the mix, it can appear to be an uphill battle, which requires determination, guidance and most importantly patience on the part of an educator.

Abacus learning for kids has transformed what seemingly appears to be a challenging task at face value, into a fun and engaging experience for young minds. This simplistic device is truly a helping hand for children who want to perform calculations with ease and certainty.

It is much easier to grasp difficult concepts when the learning experience is interactive, and that is exactly what the soroban abacus does! The playing aspect in abacus math reduces any feelings of boredom and repetition, helping to keep children fully involved in the learning process of basic and complex arithmetic calculations for hours on end. By being fully immersed in the playing aspect, children themselves hardly notice that they are in fact learning concepts that were previously intimidating. Plus, they are mastering them with bursts of enthusiasm.

Studies suggest that abacus learning for kids builds a foundation, which allows kids to comfortably solve maths equations much quicker in the later stages of their lives; compared to those who learnt to perform calculations on electronic calculators.

The soroban abacus may be old school, but it is still the most effective and interactive way of teaching little minds how to calculate and count. Plus, abacus for kids empowers them to master and even love maths!

Main image credit: kindycounts.co.uk