How to practise with a child
Treat the soroban as a tool for understanding numbers rather than a speed test. Short, calm sessions work well.
1. Start with one rod
Use numbers 0–9. Lower beads are worth 1 and the upper bead is worth 5. Ask the child to set 1, 2, 4, 5, 7 and 9.
2. Say each move aloud
Encourage explanations such as “I have 5 and add 3, so I make 8.” This shows whether the child understands the move.
3. Complements to 5
Remember 1 with 4 and 2 with 3. For 5 − 3, remove 5 and add back 2: −5 +2. The child should understand that 3 + 2 = 5.
4. Complements to 10
Then learn 1–9, 2–8, 3–7, 4–6 and 5–5. For 8 + 5 use +10 −5. For 13 − 7 use −10 +3.
5. Move to larger numbers gradually
Once one rod and the 5/10 complements are comfortable, practise 12, 25, 31 and 47, then simple operations.
6. Mistakes are useful
There is no timer. If an answer is wrong, return to the last correct state and inspect one rod at a time.
A 10-minute session
- 2 minutes of free number setting,
- 3 “Set a number” tasks,
- 3 “Read a number” tasks,
- 2 operations using a complement to 5 or 10,
- one task chosen by the child.