My Child is Bored with Soroban – What Should I Do?
Every parent hits this wall: the initial excitement fades. Here's how to handle soroban burnout without forcing or quitting.
My son was SO excited when we started soroban. Three months later, he's dragging his feet. "Do I have to?" every single day. Here's what I learned about motivation, burnout, and keeping the spark alive.
Why This Happens (It's Normal!)
- •Novelty wore off: The new thing isn't new anymore
- •Hit a plateau: Progress slowed down, frustration increased
- •Comparison: Sees others doing "easier" things for fun
- •Repetition fatigue: Same types of problems day after day
- •External pressure: Feels like an obligation, not a choice
EVERY child goes through this with EVERY skill. Piano, sports, languages, math – the boredom phase is universal. It's how you handle it that matters.
What NOT to Do
- •❌ Force longer practice sessions
- •❌ Threaten or punish for lack of enthusiasm
- •❌ Compare to other children
- •❌ Add pressure about progress
- •❌ Immediately quit and move to something else
What to Try First: Reduce, Don't Eliminate
When my son complained, I cut practice from 20 minutes to 10 minutes. That small change made a big difference. He could handle 10 minutes without a battle.
Strategy 2: Change the Context
- •Practice at a different time (morning vs evening)
- •Practice in a different location (couch vs desk)
- •Practice together (you do problems too)
- •Make it a race or competition
Strategy 3: Focus on Wins
Instead of pushing forward, celebrate what they've already achieved:
- •"Remember when you couldn't do this? Now you can!"
- •"You're faster than a month ago!"
- •"Let's show grandma what you learned"
Strategy 4: Take a Break (But a Short One)
Sometimes a 1-2 week break is okay. Not months – you'll lose progress. But a short pause can reset motivation.
During a break, casually use mental math in daily life. "Quick, what's 15 + 8?" Keep the brain engaged without formal practice.
Strategy 5: Real-World Applications
My breakthrough came when I started involving my son in real situations:
- •"Help me add up the grocery bill"
- •"How much change should we get back?"
- •"Can you calculate the tip?"
- •"How many more points to reach 1000?"
When math had a PURPOSE, his interest returned.
When to Actually Quit
If after trying everything, your child is still miserable for 2+ months, it might be time to pause longer. Better to stop and try again in 6-12 months than to create hatred for math.
Ready to help your child build math confidence? Sorokid offers interactive lessons, games, and progress tracking designed for busy families.
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