An abacus is a tool you can use to complete meth operations. It was mainly used in Asia and Africa centuries ago as merchants and traders used to keep track of their activities. China and Japan were the countries where the use of the abacus was most prominent, although it is known to have been used in many other regions, such as Rome, India, and Mesopotamia.
Abacus learning has stopped being so prominent worldwide because we now have access to calculators on most devices at the moment. However, even though there is no practical use for the abacus, it continues to be one of the best resources for the development of children.
Studies have shown that the human brain goes through an "accelerated" period of development from ages 4 to 7, on average. Therefore, it is important for kids to be stimulated around this age for them to be able to develop some of the essential skills they will need later in life.
Hence, if you don’t know how your kid can benefit from abacus learning, you’ve come to the right place. We’ll describe everything you need to know regarding the benefits of the abacus in children and how it can be one of the best resources you can include in your child’s everyday life.
Abacus learning is often accompanied by flashcard training—a mental training technique. Hence, the combination of both processes can help your child develop better observation skills. Kids can become capable of processing numbers pretty quickly with continuous practice.
Additionally, the abacus is known to strengthen memory. Kids are required to memorize diverse images and solve different problems. Abacus students are known to remember the "final image" they've built before they provide the final results.
Hence, frequent training with the abacus can help a child's brain develop a photographic memory.
One of the least known benefits of the abacus is that it promotes the development of creativity and artistic skills. After all, the kid's ability to visualize and imagine ciphers is continually being stimulated, allowing them to become more creative in the long run.
The abacus stimulates both sides of the brain. Neurology says that the brain's right hemisphere is responsible for creativity and artistry. Therefore, it will not only help your kid develop better mathematic skills, but it may also help them find their inner artists while also boosting their cognition.
As your kid continues training with the abacus, they will be required to "drown out" the distractions from their environment to be able to solve the operations. Over time, they will be able to visualize the abacus in their minds and solve these calculations without needing to have the resource in their hands.
In addition, abacus learning can help your kids learn more about stress management. As anxiety is a prevalent problem in the younger generations, stimulating a child’s brain to learn how to cope with stressful situations and remain focused on what's happening can be life-changing.
Math can be an intimidating subject for most kids. However, it doesn’t have to be complicated. Although the traditional method of learning math can work for some, learning how to conduct basic arithmetic operations with the abacus can help your kid complete these operations quickly and accurately, which can result in a self-esteem and confidence boost in the long run.
Hence, there isn’t anything in life that is “too complicated to solve!”
Your kid's analytical skills will be continually put to the test during abacus learning. They will have to look at different ciphers and make them tangible with their abacus. Hence, this part of their psyche will be constantly stimulated, allowing them to develop better critical thinking skills in the long run.
The development of critical thinking can help your kid have a strong academic foundation and excel in different subjects throughout their education, not only those math-related. Hence, starting abacus learning from a young age can be quite advantageous.
Technology has advanced a lot throughout the years. We now have access to calculators and different tools that help us solve math operations in the blink of an eye. However, the abacus doesn't only have practical use. As evidenced throughout the article, it can also be an excellent ally during a child's early years of education since it provides them with some of the following benefits:
Kids can start abacus learning from age 4. However, that doesn't mean that older children can benefit from it. Any person that dedicates some time to learning to use the abacus will improve different skills in the long run.
However, please note that research has shown that the human brain accelerates its development between ages 4 and 7, then it considerably slows down at around age 13. Hence, the earlier the kid starts learning how to use the abacus, the more beneficial it will be for them. Not only will they be able to complete arithmetic operations in less tie, but they will also have more confidence, creativity, and better problem-solving skills.
Do you think it is time for your kid to learn a new skill? You can start their abacus learning process today!