One cosy afternoon, two siblings, aged 5 and 7, were playing with numbers at the dining table, when the younger one asked, “Do you want to supercharge your brain with me?” The older one, intrigued, nodded, and they both started their little game—one with a calculator, and the other with an abacus.
As part of their game, the 7-year-old typed a tricky sum into the calculator:
“5783 × 46 = ?”
With a few quick taps, the answer appeared on the screen. But before they could even say it out loud, the 5-year-old, moving their fingers as if shifting invisible beads, blurted out the correct answer at the exact same time!
The older sibling’s jaw dropped. “How did you do that?” they asked, completely stunned. With a proud smile, the 5-year-old replied, “It’s the magic of the abacus! It helps me supercharge my brain!”
Abacus or Calculator: Which is Better to Supercharge Your Brain?
The abacus is more than just an old counting tool — it’s a brain-training powerhouse. Children who practice with it develop exceptional mental maths skills, often solving problems faster than a calculator. That’s why they’re sometimes called “Human Calculators,” because they can compute numbers purely through visualisation. The abacus can help kids supercharge their brain, strengthening their cognitive abilities in a way that a calculator cannot.
How the Abacus Supercharges Your Brain
1. It Develops Mental Maths Skills: A calculator provides answers instantly, but it doesn’t strengthen problem-solving skills. The abacus teaches children to visualise numbers, allowing them to perform calculations quickly without any external device. This boosts maths skills and helps supercharge the brain for faster thinking.
2. It Activates Both Sides of the Brain: Unlike a calculator, which requires no thinking, abacus training engages both hemispheres of the brain—logic on the left and creativity on the right. This enhances memory, concentration, and cognitive abilities, enabling kids to supercharge their brain and improve overall brain function.
3. It Improves Focus and Discipline: Using an abacus requires active participation, helping children develop better focus and patience. Unlike screens, which provide instant solutions, the abacus encourages logical thinking and persistence.
4. It Makes Learning Maths Fun: Many children struggle with numbers, but the abacus makes maths a hands-on experience. The movement of beads turns calculations into a game, building confidence and reducing maths anxiety.
The Final Showdown: Abacus vs Calculator
Hearing the conversation, the parent smiled and said, “The calculator is fast, but your little sibling’s brain is even faster—and getting sharper every day. The abacus helps them supercharge their brain.” The 7-year-old nodded thoughtfully. “Maybe I should learn the abacus too.” And so, in the middle of an ordinary afternoon, the siblings discovered an extraordinary lesson: the greatest calculator is the human brain—especially when trained with the abacus to supercharge your brain.
Would you rather have your child rely on a calculator or train their brain to be the ultimate calculator?
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