A Child’s Confidence Grows With Their Accomplishment

Many parents make a deal with their children: “OK. When you pass Level 6 … or Level 3 … or when you go to middle … or to high school, you can quit.”

After they leave, they may have another great activity waiting for them. But if your child has already invested two years, three years or five years, why do you let them stop?

I have talked to many of my high achievers who stayed in JAMS for only three or four years. When they graduate from college or grad school, they all retain their skills and appreciate their use, but they all say: “I wish my parents made me stay until I graduated high school.”

Don’t you think this sounds funny?

When they are young, they torture you, crying:

“I don’t want to go to Abacus.”

“There’s too much homework.”

“It’s boring.”

“Sensei got mad at me, etc.”

After they graduate, they appreciate Abacus and blame you that you did not let them stay at JAMS!

Here are some other things that I have learned after more than 22 years of teaching Abacus to children:

1. My students use their mental calculation skills regardless of wherever they go and whatever they do in their careers.

2. To acquire a life skill, you have to keep at it as long as you can.

3. As we get older, it isn’t easy to stay in one activity for a long time because there are so many distractions and so many tasks to juggle.

4. A completed achievement makes children much more successful as adults. They do not take pride in completing 12 years of school, but if they know Abacus/piano/Taekwondo/swimming, etc., and they did it until graduating high school, they remember and they are pleased with themselves.

Give your child CONFIDENCE and PRIDE along with longtime skills. They will be a winner in life.

Thank you again for trusting us to give your children life skills.

~ Sensei Miwako