photo credit: Yishun JC Photos
Although the concepts of mental arithmetic have been around for many years now, it is only recently that they have been creating quite a buzz in the educational community and for parents around the world.
Many of us were taught the concepts of math, the usual ways to solve a math problem and basically, to accept that math is hard.
Mental arithmetic educators say otherwise.
Math is only hard if we want it to be hard. Mental arithmetic clearly shows that.
Sold? Well, you should be. Mental arithmetic is really one of the best ways to improve your child’s schooling and overall brain and social development.
But where do we start?
You see, the most common question about mental arithmetic is when the best time to learn it is. I would always say that the best time would be now. And that the earlier they do so, the better.
Then that would be followed by, “but my child isn’t at school yet.” And believe it or not, a kid who hasn’t gone to school yet is the best student for mental arithmetic. Aside from that, they’re also the most successful students.
The human brain develops the most during the first three years of life. It has actually started growing and absorbing information the day a person is born.
As you can imagine, the growth of the human brain is at its full speed and most optimal to receive, store and remember information.
This makes a young kid the perfect student for mental arithmetic. Aside from that, they also have not been exposed to any other and usually traditional form of studying. Mental arithmetic lessons will not only teach your kids about math, they would develop the proper attitude towards learning too.
You see, the common school system today is okay. It has its strengths and advantages. But did you know that the school system that we have today (and experienced when we were in school) is based from the Industrial Revolution? That’s back in the 1800s! And how much has changed since then, right?
Needless to say, the traditional method of learning is not as effective anymore. It still works. But we aren’t reaching our full potential because of the outdated methods and strategies of learning new information.
Your kids are and will be exposed to that. Unless, they learn about the different mental arithmetic techniques and concepts right away and through the right resources.
Now, this doesn’t mean that a kid who’s already studying do not qualify as a mental arithmetic student. They do! It will just take more time and discipline (both on the educator’s and student’s part) to instil the right study regimen or habit that they will get in their mental arithmetic lessons.
