Mental arithmetic, or Anzan, has its roots in Asia, particularly Japan, where it has been a popular educational tool for decades.
The original HIKARI® program for mental arithmetic is used at the Kid Genius Academy for children ages 6-12, targeting the critical period of peak brain plasticity.
This program focuses on the development of mental arithmetic skills using the Soroban, a traditional Japanese abacus. Kids gradually transition from using the physical abacus to performing mental calculations through visualization and simulation of the abacus movements.
The curriculum is built upon the Total Brain Development Program (TBDP) and the Visual-Auditory-Kinesthetic (VAK) method. By introducing controlled distractions, the program engages multiple brain regions simultaneously, promoting the formation of synapses (neural connections) between the two hemispheres of the brain. This integrated approach enhances cognitive flexibility, focus, and mental agility, fostering overall brain development.
The program aims to develop children’s intellectual and cognitive skills by mastering abacus work in addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, as well as mental arithmetic. Cognitive development is achieved through abacus calculation, mental arithmetic, and didactic games, which activate both brain hemispheres to maximize intellectual potential.
Rapid arithmetic demonstrates improved skills such as visualization, focus, concentration, logical thinking, and memory. This process enhances how students hear, process information, understand, imagine, and solve problems, ultimately boosting their confidence and intelligence.
The program is designed for children ages 6-12, as this is the period of life in which a human brain develops most rapidly and dynamically and in which most neuronal connections (synapses) occur.
Learning is practiced in small groups (from 6 to 12 participants) through fun activities, various games and competitions, where the most important thing is relaxing and creative atmosphere and positive emotional relationships. The groups are organized based on child’s age so the child could be among its peers and thus make this experience that much engaging.
The course content is carefully designed to tailor to individual child’s speed and needs.
Classes take place once a week for 90 minutes with a short break in the middle.