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.
Mancala games teach patience.
Mancala 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.
Players 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.
Since 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
For 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 arithmetics 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.
These 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.
See the range of traditional and authentic mancala games available in Australia.
