The Cliffpoint Blog · Ireland
Abacus learning, explained for parents in Ireland
Articles for families across Ireland. Research-backed writing on abacus learning, mental maths, and choosing the right after-school programme for your child.
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What is an abacus?
Complete guide to the soroban, what it is, how it works, the major types, and why kids still learn it.
Learn the abacus step by step
Three animated lessons (reading numbers, addition, subtraction) with the soroban moving bead by bead. Free, no sign up.
Try the free virtual abacus
A working 13-column soroban in your browser, with practice, quiz, and decimal display modes.
August 3, 20265 min read
BODMAS, BIDMAS, PEMDAS and BEDMAS: Same Rule, Four Names
BODMAS, BIDMAS, PEMDAS and BEDMAS are four names for one rule. What each letter means, why the same sum can look like it has two answers, and the part that trips everyone up.
August 3, 20265 min read
Maths Mentals: What They Are and How to Help Your Child Get Faster
What maths mentals are, why they are timed, what a reasonable speed actually looks like by year level, and how to help without turning the kitchen table into a test.
July 9, 20266 min read
Maths Olympiad UK: A Parent's Guide to Primary Competitions
Which maths olympiads UK primary children can actually enter, what the questions reward, and how to prepare a 6 to 12 year old without pressure.
July 2, 20264 min read
Mental Maths for NAPLAN Numeracy: A Calm Prep Guide for Year 3 and Year 5 Parents
What NAPLAN numeracy really rewards, why mental arithmetic is the quiet advantage, and a no-drama way to build it before March, for Year 3 and Year 5 kids.
July 2, 20264 min read
Math Fact Fluency: Why It Matters More Than You Think (and How to Build It)
Why fluent math facts free your child's brain for real problem solving, why timed drills alone backfire, and what actually builds automatic recall.
July 2, 20265 min read
The Year 4 Multiplication Tables Check: A Parent's Guide to Calm, Confident Prep
What the MTC actually tests, why the 6 second timer is the hard part, and a calm plan to build the fluent recall your Year 4 child needs, without tears.
June 25, 20265 min read
Abacus Memes and Misinformation: The Truth Behind the Hand Movements
Abacus kids get trolled for waving their hands in the air. Here is what is really going on, why finger abacus is a myth, and how good teaching avoids it.
June 18, 20265 min read
Can a Child with ADHD or Dyscalculia Benefit from Abacus?
Abacus is not a treatment and not a cure. It is hands-on practice for focus, working memory and number sense. Here is what it can and cannot do.
June 16, 20267 min read
Does Abacus Really Make Kids Smarter? The Myths and the Honest Truth
Abacus is sold as a genius-maker and mocked as kids waving their hands in the air. Both are wrong. Here is what the research says abacus does and does not do.
June 11, 20264 min read
The Real Pros and Cons of Abacus Classes: An Honest Guide for Parents
A balanced, honest look at the real pros and cons of abacus classes, who they suit, who can skip them, and how to get the benefits without the common downsides.
June 9, 20264 min read
Is the Abacus Still Useful in a Calculator Age?
If a phone can calculate anything, why learn the abacus? Because the abacus is not a calculator. It is brain training, and that is more valuable now, not less.
June 4, 20263 min read
Abacus vs Vedic Maths vs Mental Maths: What Is the Difference?
Abacus, Vedic maths, and mental maths get mixed up constantly. Here is the plain difference between them, and which one suits which child and age.
May 28, 20264 min read
Soroban vs Abacus: What Is the Difference? (A Simple Guide for Parents)
A soroban is the Japanese abacus, but it is not the only one. Here is the simple difference between the soroban, the Chinese suanpan, and the counting frame.
May 21, 20266 min read
How to Use a Soroban: A Step-by-Step Guide for Parents and Beginners
A clear, beginner-friendly guide to using a soroban: the parts, how to read and set numbers, the finger technique, and your first sum on the Japanese abacus.
May 14, 20266 min read
What Is the Right Age to Start Abacus? (And How to Tell If Your Child Is Ready)
The best age to start abacus is 6 to 8, but readiness beats age. Here are 5 signs your child is ready to begin, plus what to do if they are not yet.
May 2, 20267 min read
The 10 Levels of Abacus Training Explained: A 2026 Roadmap
Abacus training spans about 2 to 3 years across 10 levels. What kids learn at each stage, the milestones to look for, and typical progression timelines.
May 2, 20265 min read
10 Benefits of Abacus Learning for Kids in 2026 (Backed by Research)
Abacus training builds mental math, focus, and working memory. Here are 10 evidence-backed benefits, supported by cognitive science research.
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