A Disturbing Digital Trend: Time to Act
Recent international studies and news headlines have revealed an alarming pattern in children’s behaviour and development. According to verified reports:
o 93% of children now prefer mobile games over outdoor play.
o 78% eat meals while glued to their screens.
o 77% demand mobile phones the moment they return home from school.
o 83% face eye-related issues due to excessive screen time.
o 67% exhibit behavioural abnormalities triggered by gadget overuse.
Most concerning, children are struggling to hold pencils properly due to weakened hand muscles and poor fine motor skills.
This digital addiction is not only hampering physical development—it is creating long-term learning and writing challenges, especially in competitive exams like IIT-JEE, NEET, NDA, SSC, SAT, TOEFL, IELTS, where students must write fast and precisely under immense time pressure.
The mathello approach: traditional tools for timeless success
At mathello abacus and mental arithmetic, we follow a screen-free, classroom-based approach that revives the traditional techniques of learning—backed by science and global standards. Every weekly session is focused on:
o Handwriting-Based Problem Solving
o Abacus Bead Coordination for Brain Activation
o Brain Gym Activities: 1 Minute Writing, Listening and Visual Drills
o Constant Pencil Usage for Muscle Memory
o Weekly Parental Communication
o Daily Written Homework Practice
Pencil usage is central at mathello: Writing Builds Intelligence
During the 2-hour weekly class, mathello students are required to:
o Use a pencil continuously for 120 minutes, solving sums, noting answers, and completing drills.
o Engage in time-bound exercises, especially 1-minute listening, visual, and writing tasks, building speed, focus, and precision.
o Perform pick-and-drop pencil movements across various activities, mimicking the exact physical coordination needed during competitive exam answer-writing.
This frequent pencil engagement not only develops writing muscles and fine motor skills but also instils exam-style time management, helping students stay calm and fast in real test scenarios.
Brain Gym Exercises: Activating the Whole Brain
Each class begins with 10–15 minutes of brain gym activities, including:
o Cross-lateral movements
o Finger rotations and bead tapping
o Visual tracking and coordination drills
o Memory-enhancing hand exercises
These brain gym routines sharpen both cognitive and physical faculties—essential for left-right brain synchronization, improved memory retention, and hand-eye coordination, all of which are foundational for math, language, and logical subjects.
Daily Homework and Parent Participation: The Key to Consistency
mathello ensures continuous home-based learning through:
o 6 days of written arithmetic homework (1 page per day)—building pencil stamina and daily discipline.
o Weekly orientation and feedback sessions with parents—keeping them updated on:
· Class progress and expectations
· Homework review and error correction
· Suggestions for brain gym follow-up at home
· Guidance on how to reduce digital exposure and ensure holistic development
This model creates a learning triangle between student, teacher, and parent—ensuring 360° support and consistent progress.
Competitive Confidence: mathello Genius Quest Competition & International Exams:
To measure growth, mathello provides international benchmarking through:
o WAAMA-affiliated grading examinations, held annually to test global arithmetic competencies
o The mathello genius quest, a prestigious national and international mental arithmetic and abacus championship where children:
· Compete under real-time constraints
· Solve complex problems with speed and accuracy
· Gain exposure to global standards
· Build performance confidence in high-stakes environments
· This competitive experience mimics the pressure of major exams like IIT-JEE, NEET, NDA, SAT, and IELTS, giving mathello students a head starts in mastering exam psychology, time control, and mental clarity.
The mathello Difference: Building Smarter Children the Right Way
While the world rushes toward digital dependence, mathello stands as a guardian of traditional, time-tested learning. Our system:
o Strengthens handwriting skills and pencil grip
o Improves brain-hand-eye coordination
o Enhances attention span and cognitive flexibility
o Builds time management and problem-solving speed
o Avoids screens and mobile devices entirely during class and practice
o Trains students to perform in exam-like pressure environments
Final Word: It's Time to Reclaim the Pencil
In a world where screens dominate, mathello brings children back to the basics—where learning happens with a pencil, paper, and brainpower. We help children develop the mental stamina, physical coordination, and academic excellence needed for real success in both school and global competition.
Say no to screens. Say yes to smart learning. Choose mathello.
Sreenevas Iyengar
Global Education Director
