Home » Education » Math » Fun with Math

Mancala Games for Kids

Ranked #7,303 in Education, #168,285 overall

Mancala Maths - Games that Endure

We have started using mancala with our "almost-three-year-old" as a means of teaching her to count. We have watched six year olds fly, seeds in hand, across a bao board as they count their way to victory against adults.

Our conclusion is, mancala makes learning maths fun. And this appears to be the reason for its longevity over many centuries and in almost all cultures.

Known by a myriad of names (oware, bao, kalaha, wari, aware, congklak, dakon, gabata, songo, just to name a few), Mancala is a maths game for kids. The effects of playing mancala have been extensively researched in studies on human memory, problem solving and human development by the Dutch psychologist Alexander Johan de Voogt and the Swiss psychologist Jean Retschitzki (President of the Swiss Society of Psychology 1998-2003).

Here is what we have learned about this simple and yet incredibly helpful educational board game.

This is What Maths looks Like for Kids who use Mancala

Loading

Mancala games teach patience.

Oware from GhanaMancala games offer a chance to easily see how one can improve with practice, and so helps to learn that working at something pays dividends.

These board games also teach children to follow instructions, to abide by the rules, to play fair and to cope with defeats. They help with face-to-face interaction, cooperation and competition, and improve social abilities.

Their multicultural heritage works against racist attitudes and teaches cooperation. They also increase the awareness and respect towards their own cultural heritage, particularly amongst players in Africa and Asia.

Mancala games improve observation skills.

Oware Asanti StoolPlayers need to develop cognitive skills to distinguish good moves from bad ones and favourable board positions from disadvantageous ones.

They are exercises, which strengthen memory and concentration.

Mancala games teach analytical thinking.

Bao from MalawiSince players must learn to plan and develop strategies, to be successful one has to foresee what will happen several moves in advance. The game forces players to anticipate their opponent's next moves.

They have to put themselves in the position of someone else, otherwise they can be beaten very easily.

Mancala games help with mathematical thinking

Fanorona from MadagascarFor starters, one has to keep track of the number of stones in each hole. They help with basic calculation skills, but also offer great challenges for mathematicians and computer scientists.

One modern variation called Numeracy was specifically designed to teach arithmetic in primary schools. mancala have also been used by schools in the USA to help children with dyscalculia.

Playing mancala games develops fine motor skills.

Folding Dakon Duck from IndonesiaThese include visual tracking, hand-eye coordination, and the ability to manipulate small objects by transferring them in a process known as "sowing".

We use a board made in Ghana (Oware is their national game). We do this because not only can we teach maths through playing games, but we can also teach geography and a host of other cultural subjects.

There is also something authentic about playing the mancala game as it is made in another country. Plastic just doesn't do it for us.

Maths for Kids with Mancala

Mancala Board Games in 30 Seconds...

Learning Maths through Traditional Board Games. Mancala, Oware, Bao, Katro. African Board Games that Teach Kids!

One Stop Mancala Shop...

Buy or Browse Mancala Maths Games
Click on the link above to find authentic Mancala boards to suite all tastes and budgets

Go, On, Say Something!

  • Philippians468 Apr 9, 2011 @ 10:55 am | delete
    i strongly agree that learning can be made fun! a great example is through board games and i've experienced how it is even possible to coach and teach good moral values to children too! cheers
Show All

Useful Maths & Mancala Links

Online Mancala Game
Play Mancala Online - no where near as good as the real thing, but at least you get the idea.

by

davidtrounce

David is the father of a growing multitude and lives with his wife and family in Port Stephens, NSW Australia.
David enjoys reading, writing, camping... more »

Feeling creative? Create a Lens!

Explore related pages

Related Tags