The human brain starts to develop at an amazing pace at the age of 3 and it develops almost 80% between the ages of 4 and 11.

In his ground breaking work Jean Piaget, the renowned Swiss psychologist, defined the period of development between the ages of 4 and 11 as the “Concrete Operational Stage”.

According to Piaget the “Concrete operational stage” marks a major turning point in the child's cognitive development, as it marks the beginning of logical or operational thought. This stage of development is characterised by remarkable cognitive growth.

According to Burns & Silbey (2000), “hands-on experiences and multiple ways of representing a mathematical solution can be ways of fostering the development of this cognitive stage”. The importance of hands-on activities cannot be overemphasized at this stage. By applying Piaget’s theories to these activities, we can provide students an avenue to make abstract ideas concrete, allowing them to literally get a grip on mathematical ideas and concepts as useful tools for solving problems. The soroban abacus provides this much needed hands-on experience.

KidsBrain students are nurtured and challenged throughout the programme, as their mathematical and problem solving skills improve so too does their sense of self and confidence.

Along the road to mastering mental calculation, each KidsBrain student will also refine their "Executive Functions": the abilitiy to Concentrate, Visualise, Imagine and Memorise. Executive Functions develop through practice and are strengthened by the experiences through which they are applied and honed, providing the support that children need to build these skills is one of society’s most important responsibilities.

The KidsBrain programme provides the optimal environment to develop each of these essential skills.