When most parents hear “abacus,” they immediately think mathematics. But what many don’t realize is that abacus improves reading and comprehension by strengthening the same brain skills children use to read, understand, and remember information.
If your child struggles to:
- Stay focused while reading
- Understand passages
- Remember what they just read
The issue may not be reading ability—it may be poor concentration and memory, which abacus training directly addresses.
What Reading and Maths Have in Common
Reading comprehension is not just about knowing words. It requires:
- Sustained attention
- Working memory
- Visual tracking
- Mental processing
These are the exact skills developed during abacus mental maths training.
When a child calculates mentally, they must:
- Hold numbers in their mind
- Follow sequences
- Visualize movements
- Focus without distraction
This mental discipline naturally transfers to reading and comprehension tasks.
How Abacus Training Strengthens Reading Ability
1. Improved Concentration
Abacus exercises train children to focus for longer periods without drifting. This helps children stay attentive while reading longer passages or listening in class.
2. Stronger Memory Retention
Mental maths strengthens working memory, allowing children to remember:
- Characters
- Instructions
- Story sequences
- Key points in comprehension passages
3. Better Visual Processing
Abacus learners visualize bead movements mentally. This sharpens visual-spatial skills, helping children:
- Track lines of text
- Recognize patterns
- Process information faster
Why This Matters for Nigerian Children
In Nigerian schools, children are expected to:
- Read and understand exam questions quickly
- Interpret comprehension passages
- Follow multi-step instructions
A child who struggles with focus or memory may read fluently but still fail to understand or answer questions correctly.
This is why parents often notice that after abacus training, children:
- Read with more confidence
- Understand passages faster
- Answer questions more accurately
Beyond English: Benefits Across All Subjects
Improved comprehension does not stop at reading alone.
Children trained with the abacus often perform better in:
- English Language
- Social Studies
- Basic Science
- Verbal reasoning
This is because comprehension is a thinking skill, not just a language skill.
Scientific Insight: Mental Arithmetic and Brain Function
Educational research shows that mental arithmetic activates brain regions responsible for:
- Attention control
- Working memory
- Visual processing
These same regions are heavily used in reading comprehension and learning retention, explaining why abacus-trained children often excel beyond maths.
How SIMA Abacus Supports Whole-Brain Development
At SIMA Abacus & Mental Maths Academy, we focus on:
- Building focus and mental discipline
- Strengthening memory and visualization
- Developing confident, independent learners
Our goal is not just faster calculations—but smarter, more focused children across all areas of learning.
You can also explore how abacus improves concentration and learning confidence here:
https://www.simaabacus.com
What Parents Can Do Now
If your child:
- Reads but struggles to understand
- Easily forgets what they read
- Loses focus during homework
Then abacus training may be the missing link.
Enroll your child today at www.simaabacus.com and help them build skills that support both reading and academic success.