Month: March 2026

A successful future requires a flexible, diverse, and lively intellect. The most important step in a child’s life is to choose a system of education that will help them build their future. Soroban mental arithmetic provides a unique opportunity to raise a new, creative, highly intellectual generation.

1. Mental arithmetic and Soroban. A unique method of development.

Why and how are children aged 5-6 taught at Soroban, and what are the specifics of the instruction?

We will introduce the secrets of success of this unique method.

Mental arithmetic and Soroban have created an amazing and unique method of mental calculation. By basing the new method on the achievements of modern psychology and mental arithmetic, the experts at Soroban opened up an entire wonderful world – the Soroban School of Mental Arithmetic.

Mental arithmetic helps children easily learn addition, subtraction, and other basic arithmetic operations. Children develop long-term memory, concentration, increased reaction speed, analytical and visual thinking, and independence. Mental arithmetic is what helps a child stand out among their peers. The qualities that children acquire in lessons provide them with a strong start for future successes. Specifically:

Development of both hemispheres, connecting them in paired work

School subjects develop mainly only the left hemisphere, while leaving the right (creative) one aside;

Improvement of memory and attention

Systematic lessons help the brain retain first small, and then large, mathematical operations in memory, using imagination for operations. Working with the Soroban and mental calculation enhance this effect;

Intellectual development

The development and consolidation of skills and abilities that allow for faster learning of foreign languages, remembering new information and using it when needed, finishing what has been started, and not being afraid to make independent decisions without fear of mistakes is guaranteed;

Increased academic success

The resulting interest in the learning process itself now “demands” active information processing from the child. Such children show greater interest in learning. Their brain is always active.

2. Soroban – a school for happy and successful children. What is the secret to such success?

1. In understanding the very needs of children

And they want:

• To learn about the world and all its wonderful aspects;
• To gain support from adults to feel safe;
• To see their “self” and find their place in society and family.

2. In cooperation

And it begins necessarily with a deep understanding of the characteristics of the young students’ needs, so that the necessary reference point in their own development and the world around them is chosen for them. Individual guidance for each child on the path to success.

3. In the instruction itself. And it is designed to:

• Awaken in the child an interest in quick calculation;
• Enable them to use individual skills and acquired knowledge;
• Make learning bring joy and enthusiasm;
• Strengthen the belief that the child is an independent personality.

4. In the ideal organization of instruction

Technical aspects:

• Age range (5-11 years);
• Presence of age groups;
• Low workload;
• Proprietary computer program that monitors the achievements and progress of each student.

3. Soroban for children aged 5. Key characteristics.

Soroban for children aged 5 involves key characteristics of instruction.

Because the brain of a five-year-old child enters a phase of “great explosion”, where its activity in creating working neural pathways is twice that of an adult, it is precisely mental arithmetic that stimulates the creation of such connections. It teaches the brain to follow the path of actively creating and utilizing paired connections of both brain hemispheres. But it is important not only to help create these connections but also to reinforce these skills with special exercises. And this is where mental arithmetic comes in. It has taken on the high-quality preparation of the child for school, ultimately eliminating all problems and difficulties in education, memory, social adaptation, and self-identification, in building skills and the desire to accept the school rhythm. For them, there are games, praise, rewards for achievements and for the work itself, a warm environment for communication, and valuable experience of teamwork.

4. Soroban for children aged 6. The success kit.

Soroban for children aged 6 has strengthened these directions and incorporated the following set of lessons to prepare for learning about the world at school:

• Mathematical education and quick calculation;
• Development of fine motor skills for writing;
• Improvement of motor functions for oral expression;
• Development of visual memory and auditory centers, attention for reading, listening, and language comprehension;
• Strengthening the mind for intellectual demands;
• Consistent habit of working in class, in groups, in pairs, and on homework for serious cognitive activity.

At the Soroban School, social, personal, cognitive, and volitional education for children aged 5-6 is very skillfully combined: clarity of set goals + high skill of the trainers guarantee the child’s success in school preparation and painless adaptation to schoolwork!

The world is large and diverse. As a child learns to discover this world, they strive to adapt within it. What role do mathematical skills play in this process? Is it possible to simply forget about this at first glance boring science of numbers and rules and somehow get by without it? Who will help the child unlock the secrets of mathematics and fall in love with it? How will the Soroban Mental Arithmetic courses help?
That will be the topic of our discussion.

The Soroban System

Mathematics. Is it necessary?

Mathematics is an educational subject that forms a mathematical combination of knowledge, skills, and abilities and helps develop social adaptation skills and life orientation in students. The child’s ability to navigate the world and move forward independently within it depends on their level.

So, what are the essential mathematical requirements for life?

1. A sufficiently developed level of quantitative, spatial, and temporal concepts.
2. The ability to perform arithmetic operations.
3. The ability to apply acquired knowledge and skills to solve arithmetic problems.
4. Knowledge of geometric material and its properties, sizes, and units of measurement.

These are the main mathematical conditions for children’s adaptive abilities and independence.

The answer is obvious – mathematics is absolutely necessary.

Mathematics for children

Mathematics for children is a world in which they encounter particularly difficult educational, cognitive, and psychological challenges.

Specifically:

1. With the phenomenon of mirror movements (one type of visual perception difficulty).

It manifests as errors in graphic activity:

• difficulties in writing – 12 – 21, 13 – 31, etc.;
• confusion of numbers from 12 to 19;
• disruption of the order of writing elements.

2. With the difficulties of the perception process itself: the child selects only 2-3 functions from an infinite number. Therefore, children:

• do not remember numbers from 10 to 100 when heard;
• do not understand the meaning of numbers;
• do not remember the composition of numbers 5 and 10.

3. With the transformation of the social situation in development:

• the breakdown of the “child – adult” system into “child – parents” and “child – teacher”;
• the start of education – stress;
• change in relationships: joint work, learning, communication;
• relationships with peers, working in pairs, groups.

4. With the new status of a schoolchild:

• withdrawal,
• fear of mistakes, responsibility;
• absence of friends;
• quick fatigue and irritability.

Mental arithmetic

The child does not understand mathematics. Why and how to help?
The culprits are:

• psychological characteristics of the child themselves: lack of self-confidence, dependence on the opinions of parents, relatives, and peers, fear of difficulties with something new;
• parental attitude: anger and criticism of the child for “muddling through”, “not trying”, “being stupid”, “having no talent for this science”;
• “neglect” of the problem (one misunderstanding + another = hopelessness).

How to help?

1. Do not increase tension, but reduce it.

2. Do not prepare the child to focus on failures.

3. Do not force the child to “drill”.

4. Help them understand the integrity of mathematics and become friends with it.

How to get the child out of the vicious circle?

Can parents who do not have the necessary knowledge and experience do it themselves? They need experts who know how and are able to help!

The Soroban School of Mental Arithmetic

Mental arithmetic courses at Soroban. How will they help?

Mental arithmetic courses await parents who have a strong desire to help their child overcome the problem of difficulties with mathematics but do not have sufficient knowledge, strength, time, and opportunities. Bring your child to the Soroban School for mental arithmetic courses. Experts who know how to work with children and are passionate about their work will help solve all the problems that the child cannot handle on their own, understand mathematics, and fall in love with it.

During the courses, they will create an excellent foundation for success:

• develop the ability to think abstractly,
• teach quick calculation,
• sharpen logic,
• teach to see and visualize the problem,
• develop imagination.

Mental arithmetic is a program for developing a child’s cognitive abilities.

Its goal is not quick calculation, although that is astonishing.

It is effective help in mastering mathematical knowledge, understanding the operations of addition and subtraction on the soroban abacus and then without it, understanding the composition of numbers. This method:

• connects both hemispheres of the brain in work, allowing for a faster path to the results of mathematical operations;
• develops them evenly and helps the child utilize all types of memory, precision, speed, and unconventional thinking, imagination, attention, observation;
• guarantees the first positive results in mastering skills and abilities to work with numbers within the first month.

By the end of the course, all problems with understanding mathematical concepts will disappear.

Using the soroban abacus and mental arithmetic methods, engaging the motor skills of both hands synchronizes the work of both brain hemispheres, increases the speed of information processing, and develops photographic memory, attention, and imagination.

A creative approach to solving mathematical tasks in a wild way helps develop the child’s thinking.

The child will learn to train their mind, spend time interestingly and usefully, learn to be self-confident, work towards success, not be afraid of mistakes, and find joy in work! The main thing is to learn to think quickly and become friends with mathematics!

Contents:

1. Benefits of mental calculation.
2. Brain development in children.
3. Formation of skills and abilities through mental calculation.
4. Soroban® School – school of mental calculation.

Benefits of mental calculation.

Today’s society places high demands on children’s education, especially preschool children. Scientific research confirms that mental calculation has great potential for brain development and preparing children for school education. Let’s explore why mental calculation is important and how it can contribute to academic success.

The method of mental calculation is an important tool for the development of preschool children. Let’s take a closer look at why this method is useful and how it can contribute to academic success.

1.     Brain development: Mental calculation requires active brain work. Children who regularly practice mental calculation develop memory, concentration, and visual thinking. This contributes to overall cognitive development.

2.     Formation of skills and abilities: Mental calculation helps children master mathematical concepts, relationships between numbers, and basic operations. They learn to think logically and solve problems.

Brain development in children

The brain is a neurobiological marvel that begins its development as early as the second week after conception. Let’s look at the main stages of brain development in children:

1.     Intrauterine development: Initially, sensory areas responsible for hearing and sight develop in infants. The brain actively functions even before birth, and this period is important for its formation.

2.     First years of life: Later, language skills and cognitive functions begin to develop. By age 4, all areas of the brain responsible for basic senses and motor skills are developed in children. At this time, children are able to do most basic things on their own.

3.     School age: By age 6, the part of the brain responsible for speech is actively developing. This process occurs incredibly quickly between the ages of 4 and 6. That is precisely why children aged 5-6 easily master foreign languages.

4.     Adolescence: By age 9, a child’s brain is already capable of handling complex tasks. Adolescents may experience strong emotions but cannot control them. At age 13, a child is like a bomb with a slow fuse, ready to explode at any moment.

5.     Adolescence and adulthood: The efficiency of brain function increases. Children can absorb a lot of material, learn to analyze, and draw their own conclusions. During this period, children choose an area of knowledge that interests them and focus on it.

Influence on brain development: Factors such as sleep, physical activity, and screen time affect proper brain development. Parents should consider these aspects to contribute to the harmonious development of their child.

Formation of skills and abilities through mental calculation

Mental calculation is not just manipulation of numbers, but an important tool for child development. Let’s see how it contributes to the formation of skills and abilities.

1.     Development of mathematical thinking: Mental calculation helps children master mathematical concepts such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. They learn to understand relationships between numbers and solve problems.

2.     Logical thinking: During mental calculation, children learn to analyze situations logically. They develop skills in comparison, classification, and choosing the optimal solution.

3.     Concentration and attention: Mental calculation requires attention to detail and accuracy. Children learn to focus on the task and perform it without errors.

4.     Independence and self-confidence: When children can calculate quickly mentally, they become more independent. This increases their self-confidence in their own abilities.

5.     Preparation for school education: Mental calculation is a prerequisite for further study of mathematics. Children who can calculate quickly adapt better to school tasks.

Mental calculation is not just a skill, but an important element of child development. By using this method, educators can prepare young children for school education and contribute to their overall development.

Soroban® School – school of mental calculation.

The Soroban® School is a methodology of mental arithmetic that uses mental calculation to develop children. Let’s see how Soroban contributes to intellectual growth:

1.     Improvement of cognitive abilities: Mental calculation on sorobans activates both hemispheres of the brain. This contributes to the development of analytical and creative thinking.

2.     Improvement of memory and concentration: Performing arithmetic operations mentally trains children’s memory and focus.

3.     Visualization of numbers: Soroban abacuses help children visualize numbers. They understand tens, the composition of numbers, and the relationships between them.

4.     Development of self-esteem and self-confidence: Successful performance of mental calculations increases children’s self-esteem.

5.     Use in real life: Mental calculation skills are useful not only in mathematics but also in various areas of life.

Soroban is a methodology that is a tool for brain development, helping children become more competent and creative.

The Soroban® methodology uses mental calculation to develop children. Let’s see in which areas of life the skills acquired through Soroban® can be used:

1.     Teaching mathematics: Soroban helps children more easily understand numbers, relationships between them, and basic mathematical operations. This is useful not only at school but also in everyday life.

2.     Memory and concentration: Performing mental calculations trains memory and focus. This is useful when studying new material.

3.     Development of creativity and imagination: The ability to visualize numbers and their relationships develops creative thinking.

4.     Self-discipline and self-confidence: Regular training in the Soroboom app helps children gain more confidence in their abilities.

5.     Preparation for school and academic success: Skills acquired through Soroban facilitate school studies and contribute to academic success.

Conclusion: Mental calculation is an important tool for child development. By using this method, parents prepare preschoolers for school education and contribute to their overall development.

References:
Kozak, L., Lucik, T. “Characteristics of pedagogical innovations in work with preschool children.”
John Medina. “Brain Rules for Your Child”

Failed tasks. Psychology.

Do you remember how many unfinished tasks you have today?

Unfinished renovations, unfinished course, unfinished sweater, unread book, canceled gym membership…

Each of us can “boast” of a dozen such “unfinishes”. We get inspired by something and quickly lose interest when difficulties arise. We convince ourselves that we will finish it after the holidays, then we postpone it to weekends, to spring, to summer and… Everything remains unfinished.

Maybe no one is forcing us, but our own independent “self” whispers to us:

“You are weak”, “you can’t even do that”, “where will you get like this”, “you should have left it alone”.

And imagine a child who has also collected their own “unfinishes” and does not even know what to do with them, and they are burdened by:

“You are a failure”, “well how can you not finish something like that”, “there’s been enough talk”, “you shouldn’t have done anything” and many other offensive words that fall on fertile ground and grow into uncertainty, loss of self-belief, weak character, and dependence on the opinions of others.

“We are all children at heart,” wrote the talented Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.

The child does not finish tasks.

We carry all our childhood dreams, goals, enthusiasm, and certainty into adult life. But along with that, we are accompanied by a tail of bitter words that I can’t do it, that I am a failure, lazy, or stupid. It’s a pity that we cannot finish tasks.

Do you know that feeling when a child begged to be enrolled in sports or wrestling and gave up after six months when the workload increased?

Or when they started reading a book and stopped halfway? Or attended music school for a year and after the first serious exams gave it up, and the musical instrument sits abandoned in the corner?

Unfinished tasks or cleaning left half-done. Children often start a new task and quickly abandon it when they lose interest or something stops working.

The pain of parents – the child does not finish tasks. What to do? Because what we learn in childhood accompanies us into adult life.

And unfinished cleaning grows into unfinished renovations, an unfinished “homework” results from disinterest in a course with important education.

How to teach a child to finish tasks?

There is a solution – to teach them not to give up in the face of difficulties and to finish what they start – https://interest.soroban.ua/ua

The Soroban® School of Mental Arithmetic will help you with this.

At the Soroban® School, we teach children:

• Systematicity
• The ability to overcome difficulties
• To learn from mistakes and move forward
• To set goals and achieve them
• To believe in themselves and their abilities

We will help the child and teach them:

• To overcome laziness and the “I don’t want to” in order to finish a task
• Not to give up in the face of difficulties
• To set priorities, choose the main tasks
• To break down a large task into small ones and complete each of them

With the support of a trainer, advice, and encouragement.

Soroban® School – a helper for parents.

The school’s students train daily on the “Soroboom” brain training program. The school has a well-thought-out and refined motivation system with Grandfather Soroban coins for completed training and gifts that they can exchange for them. Children receive augmented reality cards for their weekly “homework”.

Stars, diplomas, and daily competitions in the International Soroban® Olympiad – we have done everything to ensure that children’s passion is not lost at the first difficulties.

The training program at the Soroban® School has its own artificial intelligence that personalizes tasks for each student. The results analysis system, which the trainer sees every day, makes it possible to see even the smallest mistakes and lag in exercises. It shows what the child did not understand, where they need to improve, and where they can confidently move forward because everything has been mastered 100%.

17520 hours – 730 days – 24 months we teach children the following skill:

You started it – finish it.

We will help, support, encourage, teach – https://interest.soroban.ua/ua!

Train with us and go into the future with the baggage that will make you happy.

We often hear complaints from parents about the futility of all efforts to arouse interest in education. The child entered first grade prepared, but by second grade they lost interest in learning and began to perform below their abilities. What to do? Change schools, change teachers, hire a tutor…? Not everyone can afford that. A solution is offered by a unique system of help and prevention of such common situations – the Soroban School of Mental Arithmetic.

1. Mental mathematics. Benefits for children aged 7-11 years.

Mental mathematics or arithmetic actively works with the world of the main brain. What does the combination of these two elements provide? Scientists claim that the main brain possesses great abilities, boundlessness, uniqueness, and plasticity. It is precisely mental mathematics that discovers, develops, and perfects the abilities of this world. And, what is very important, it works with the brain at the beginning of its development and formation – in preschool and school age. The brain gains a reliable assistant – mental arithmetic. It plays a major role in shaping the most important life skills (neural pathways), ensuring their retention, development, and activity. The level of intelligence depends on it. The effectiveness of mental arithmetic’s influence on children’s development is proven by the successes of many graduates of the Soroban School of Mental Arithmetic.

Cognitive abilities develop in children aged 7-11, which is why mental arithmetic lessons should not be missed. They will provide a powerful impetus in education, and the child will achieve great success in learning and other activities.

2. School and Soroban. One goal – different approaches.

School and Soroban® are both involved in the education and upbringing of the child, but with different approaches and views of the final goal. In a regular school, students are traditionally divided into three levels of development: high, medium, and low. All educational material is aimed at the student with a medium level. As a result:

• A student with a high level stops developing – the brain does not receive material for further improvement, and therefore gets used to working at half its capacity;
• An average student, not receiving a full load for their brain, will either try to stay at the same level or slide down to a lower level;
• A student at a low level of development will sooner or later reach a “threshold of understanding.”

Is it possible to prevent such a situation? Is there a school where children of different levels will find learning interesting? Yes, such a school exists – the Soroban School of Mental Arithmetic. How will it help children aged 7-11?

It will help:

• Increase the efficiency of brain function;
• Combine the development of abilities with high diligence;
• Increase the speed of absorbing curriculum material;
• Learn to calculate quickly;
• Restore or teach the brain to receive and process information, using only what is necessary;
• Improve memory, logic, and concentration;
• Learn unconventional thinking and a creative approach to solving any problem;
• Work in a team;
• Not be afraid of mistakes;
• Arouse interest and a desire for the learning process itself;
• Solve the problem of educating children at all levels of development;
• Build self-confidence and belief in their own strengths.

The goal of education at Soroban is a happy and successful child.

3. A lesson at Soroban. A place where everyone is welcome.

Children with varying levels of ability and interest in learning come to a lesson at Soroban. Trainers surround each child with warmth and understanding, engage them in a common purpose, and guide them towards achieving success. During lessons:

• Games and competitions in quick calculation are widely used;
• Diligence, responsibility, independence, and initiative are supported and encouraged;
• Children’s horizons and cognitive abilities are expanded, both brain hemispheres and thinking are developed;
• The best aspects of education are shown, with attention drawn to results, thereby arousing interest in learning;
• Social inclusion is helped, and self-belief is fostered.

4. Preparation for school of children aged 7-11 years.

Yes, yes. Specifically, preparation of already school-age children for effective learning and meeting educational requirements. It is during this time that it is important to refine the main driving force of cognitive progress – character. Which character traits are emphasized at the Soroban School?

1. Goal-orientation.

The essence of cultivating goal-orientation in a child through the method of mental arithmetic lies not in the calculation itself, but in the methodology of teaching calculation. Lessons are built on an algorithm of active interaction with children:

• Clearly and understandably set goals,
• At the center – the development of the mind and important qualities leading to the goal,
• The main thing – great diligence,
• Motivation,
• Learning not to force, but to engage,
• Equal opportunities for everyone.

2. Attention.

The uniqueness of the education lies in the beneficial combination of developing intellectual attention and the willpower to concentrate on a specific object or activity.

During lessons:

• Mental exercises are performed with the soroban counting beads,
• Mental arithmetic tasks are solved while maintaining attention on the task conditions and the soroban beads,
• Daily training sessions reinforce the learned skills.

At home:

Mandatory completion of interesting tasks using the “Grandfather Soroban” computer application.

3. Psychological attention.

Through special exercises, children learn to focus on a specific activity on their own initiative, enabling them to control their thought processes. The right approach and effective tools during lessons allow for the correction of inattention.

4. Forgetfulness.

The methodology of the Soroban School of Mental Arithmetic has developed basic approaches to overcoming forgetfulness:

• Tasks are selected that develop and train memory, thinking, and attention.
• Instruction is supported not by simple repetition and reinforcement of actions with the soroban, but by gradually increasing difficulty to refine skills and bring them to perfection.

Mental arithmetic works wonders with a child’s brain and character. It prepares an excellent foundation for successful education. It contributes to opening many facets of intelligence in children aged 7-11, actively revealing their talents.

The Soroban School is a school that teaches a child how to learn!

The child is not on friendly terms with mathematics at all. This conclusion sounds like a verdict for many parents, especially if they themselves had difficulties understanding this logical, precise, and systematic science in childhood. For them, it is a puzzle what to do in a situation where they do not understand mathematics even at the simplest level, let alone integrals or equations with two unknowns. Children who are unable to solve simple problems are in every class. Their difficulties usually pose a problem for the whole family. In attempts to improve the grades by any means, parents get involved in the process of doing homework, spend hours analyzing the same tasks, hire tutors… But achieving the desired results is not always possible. What to do when a child does not understand mathematics?

Possible solutions

Everyone chooses their own path. Some wave their hand and accept the child’s inability to understand mathematics as normal and rejoice that everything is fine with the student in the remaining subjects. Other parents constantly struggle and diligently try to develop mathematical abilities in the child by all available means. But there is also a third group of people who believe that mathematics should be completely removed from the school curriculum. Have we really reached a point where there is no longer a need to study the queen of sciences? “What to do when you don’t understand mathematics at all?” – says the typical humanist who had a hard time with mathematics in the past. And there are many such people. In defense of this idea, I recall the words of A. D. Alexandrov: “Mathematics teaches precision of thought, submission to the logic of proof, the concept of strictly substantiated truth, and all this shapes the personality, probably more than music.” Even philologists admitted that they lack logic of reasoning to properly perform analysis, systematize information, and make correct, well-founded conclusions. This means that omitting this science from the school curriculum could indeed create serious gaps in the development of a child’s intellect.

Is it possible to understand mathematics at all?

Any mathematician will tell you that there is no easier science to learn than mathematics. Why?

If you understand the principle behind a formula, you do not need to memorize it.
The mathematics curriculum is the most coherent and logical.
Mathematics does not allow for an imprecise or inconsistent answer.
All those who have discovered the world of numbers, formulas, and equations consider this lady of science to be the most subtle, beautiful, and elegant.

And now let’s return to the problem of what to do if you do not understand mathematics at all. Let’s conduct a little research consisting of a single question: “Does the child lag behind in all subjects, or only in mathematics?” The answer is quite predictable. Those with poor skills are rare. And they are usually cases of serious developmental disorders. The vast majority of children manage well both in the humanities and in studying foreign languages. And English, which has a strict logical structure, is much more difficult to understand than mathematics. If a child achieves good results here, then the reason is certainly not their abilities.

Despite these considerations, mathematics still remains at the center of educational programs in most countries, and for good reason. But let’s return to the question of what to do when you really do not understand mathematics. Let’s conduct a small study consisting of a single question: “Does the child lag behind in all subjects, or only in mathematics?” The answer is quite predictable. Inferior abilities are rare. And they are usually linked to serious developmental disorders. Mostly, children can succeed in the humanities and in studying foreign languages. English, which has a strict logical structure, is much more difficult to understand than mathematics. If a child has good results in these areas, then the cause is not their abilities.

Why does a child not understand mathematics?

Agreeing that a child has no aptitude for mathematics is the easiest thing to do. But few try to find out what lies behind it. Psychologists, after a series of studies, have identified several reasons for difficulties in understanding this exact science:

1. The child does not understand the science itself, but the conditions of the tasks, because they are not yet able to read well (this applies to younger schoolchildren). If this fact is not recognized in time, difficulties with mathematics will only increase, because each new topic builds on the previous one.

2. In mathematics, there are concepts such as “must”, “condition”, “proof”, “necessary”. All these words are harsh, commanding, and can evoke unpleasant emotions on a subconscious level. This blocks the perception of information. As a result, the child does not understand mathematics, and parents try to solve the eternal question: “what to do?”

3. The child suffers from a lack of self-confidence. Even among adults, there are people who easily tackle difficult tasks and those who try to avoid any difficulties. A lack of ability in mathematics in children is often related to the fear of failure.

4. An incorrect approach has been chosen – instead of engaging instruction that reveals all the beauty of this great science, the child is only offered to memorize the curriculum.

5. Adults (teachers and parents) themselves have convinced the child of their inability. They might have directly spoken about their limitations in this area or simply did not support the child in their efforts to understand and fall in love with this queen of sciences.

What to do when a child does not understand mathematics?

Advice:

The task of parents and educators is to awaken in children a lively interest in mathematics and show them the possibilities that this science has opened up.

First piece of advice:

Look around you. Everything in nature finds its reflection in numbers or formulas. When a child realizes this, they will see meaning in education and will want to go deeper.

Second piece of advice, traditional:

Support the child’s interest, praise them for their efforts and for solving problems, teach them to perceive mistakes as a basis for finding the right solutions.

Third piece of advice, the most important:

The standard school form of instruction, unfortunately, does not suit all children. Find a good teacher – one who loves science and can teach it to your child.

“I can’t do it, I won’t succeed anyway… It’s too complicated for me…

Parents often hear these words from children when challenged to try something new.

• The child does not believe in themselves,
• they don’t believe they can paint a picture,
• they don’t believe they can learn to ride a bike,
• they don’t believe they can win an Olympiad.

They look at their friends and classmates, see that someone else did better, and give up.

If a child does not believe in their own abilities, then every new thing seems unattainable. The first attempt becomes a test, and an unsuccessful result further lowers their self-esteem.

Low self-esteem in a child

The causes of low self-esteem can be various:

• physical flaws or constant humiliation by adults,
• failures that they are afraid to talk about because they will be punished,
• constant reminders that the child does not do things correctly,
• comparisons with others,
• financial problems in the family,
• aggressive behavior from adults

– all of this can lead to a lack of trust in themselves and their actions.

It is easy to lower a child’s self-esteem and take away their confidence if you associate their behavior with their personality. Failing to distinguish between the action and the child themselves.

For example, a child breaks a glass and the parent criticizes them, calling them clumsy, saying they have holes in their hands, and so on.

How to recognize low self-esteem in a child?

The child often says:

“I won’t solve the problem, I don’t know anything and I can’t do anything…

Don’t paint, I don’t have any talent…

Why should I learn to sing, I won’t manage it anyway…”

The child is passive, shy, insecure, withdrawn, and very sensitive. Their mood changes often, mostly to negative. Mistakes are a disaster for such a child; they blame themselves for them, focus on them, and “live” with the thought that they do everything wrong.

How to increase a child’s self-esteem and their belief in themselves?

The problem of a child’s low self-esteem is best addressed immediately. Self-confidence is the first step to a happy life in adulthood.

An aid in solving this problem is the Soroban® school – https://force.soroban.ua/ua/

Lessons are built on a proven methodology where the child moves toward their goal step by step,

• from simple to complex,
• with a gradual increase in difficulty,
• with support from a trainer,
• with motivational rewards,
• with error analysis,
• with conclusions when a mistake is made, and
• with emphasis on every achievement.

We purposefully work on self-confidence and belief in the child’s abilities throughout the entire 24 months of the course.

Within a month, the child can do something that their parents cannot, such as calculating a three-digit number at age 6 or reciting a poem while counting at the same time.

Within a few months, classmates and teachers are amazed at the positive changes in the Soroban students’ studies. They notice their desire to learn new things.

Soroban® School – training for self-confidence.

We help parents with the difficult task of parenting, and children to overcome their own insecurities and believe in their strengths.

At the end of the entire course, the child:

• Knows the value of success and victory
• Can learn from defeat and strive for victory
• Believes in themselves and their strengths
• Understands that behind every success lies hard work.

The goal of the Soroban® methodology is the development of the child’s brain.

And our course has long been more than just training in the skills of good memory, speed of thinking, attention, and concentration.

The course at the Soroban® School of Mental Arithmetic has become an aid in shaping the child’s character, their positive attitude toward the world, and their belief in themselves.