Benefits of Abacus Training for Your Child

What is 2347 + 7895? Looking up your smartphone or calculator? Did you know that a six-year-old can figure this out within minutes without the use of a material aid? That’s the power of abacus training.

Abacus training focuses on the development of mental calculation capabilities and ensures that the child understands the basic number system thoroughly. With abacus training now available in major cities in India, more parents are choosing abacus as a STEM subject for their child.

What is Abacus?

Abacus is the oldest calculating device known to man. Abacus was used to perform arithmetic calculations before the adoption of the written numerical system.

The first Chinese abacus was invented way back in 500 B.C. The abacus, as we know it today, was used in various Asian countries around 1300 A.D. It has endured the test of times, and is still used in countries such as China, Africa, Russia, and India.

Abacus has been called the ‘first computer’. It consists of a frame, rods, and beads, with each rod representing a different place value. Each of the beads represents a number, and can be moved along the rods. Abacus techniques are among the fastest ways of doing calculations, especially those involving large numbers.

For the last two decades, abacus has gained popularity as a complete brain development tool, especially for young children. Abacus aids math teachers by making the teaching experience fun and effective.

Benefits of Abacus Training

Abacus training helps develop a strong and stable mind. It makes students confident not only in maths but in other aspects of life as well.

Specifically, abacus training can help your child in the following ways.

• Build a concrete foundation for mathematics: Mathematics can be a puzzle to some. However, learning abacus builds a firm understanding of maths right from the formative years. With the visual aid of an abacus, all abstract concepts of math are transferred to tangible beads. Children have to count the beads, and this develops their hand-eye coordination. With practice, the child develops an image of the abacus in his/her head to perform mental maths. Overall, it is a fun way to get introduced to more complex mathematics.
• Encourages the use of right side of the brain: The left side of the brain focuses on the analysis of information. The right side of the brain focuses on visualisation, creativity and thinking. Usually, the left temporal region is used for performing mathematical calculations with pen and paper. Abacus training stimulates the right side of the brain, thereby improving your child’s ability to memorise, visualise, and observe.
• Develops logical understanding: Over time, children develop the ability to imagine an abacus in their mind and to make mental calculations. When a child visualises the maths question on the imaginary abacus, he/she has to think and apply logic to do the correct movement of beads in mind. Repeatedly performing mental math builds their ability to apply logic in other day-to-day life scenarios a well.
• Improved understanding of math: Research has shown that advanced abacus learners are better at solving certain types of mathematical problems compared to those who were not trained in abacus. Abacus training improves the child’s capability of solving mathematical problems with integers, decimals, and fractions, and problems requiring higher level of logical thinking.
• Improves concentration: In a study conducted by the Decker Avenue School, California, researchers analysed the effects of abacus training on children in a classroom. It was found that the students who received abacus training showed a significant improvement in concentration levels.
• Improves memory and visualisation: A two-year long study titled “The Effect of Abacus Training on Chinese Children's Mental Calculation” showed that the abacus learners had better auditory and visual memory compared to non-abacus learners. Another research has shown that abacus learning can improve visualisation, which is attributed to the fact that abacus students visualise an abacus in their mind. The visualisation ability is useful to students in other fields of study as well.
• Higher academic performance: Abacus is beneficial to children as it helps them to improve their academic performance. In mathematics subject, the score increases when the children follow Abacus. Taking training in Abacus can provide the ability to solve arithmetical problems.
   

Best Time to Start Abacus Training

Mental Maths and abacus champion Priyanshi Somani won Indian National Abacus Championship in 2006, 2007, and 2008, when she was less than ten years old. She also won several international arithmetic competitions at a young age.

Most abacus tutors are of the opinion that for best results abacus training should start early during the formative ages of the child. Children in the age group of four to five can start basic abacus training. However, it is never too late when it comes to learning a skill. So, even older children start training in abacus calculation with the help of a math tutor.

Places for Abacus Training             

Considering its various benefits, ranging from better arithmetic ability, improved memory and concentration, and a sharper mind, there is no reason why your child should not get abacus training.

There are a number of abacus training academies in India, and you can easily find one in your city. Some of the more popular ones include:

• Indian Abacus
• UCMAS
• BrainOBrain
• Mastermind Abacus

You can also hire an online tutor or a private tutor for your child right here on LearnPick. Enrol your child for abacus training with a private tutor, and discover the genius within your child.