Hi Ayesha,

My seven year old boy has been with Kumon since 3. Basically, Kumon does a lot of repetition (in terms of worksheets) and also tries to cultivate good learning habits in the kids. After the diagnosis test is done, the instructor will start the kid according to his ability level and proceed from there. There are many levels for each subject and each level consists of 200 worksheets.

The kid is taught to write his name, date and starting time before he begins on his worksheet. Depending on the kid's age, he has to finish the assigned number of worksheets within a time frame. There is goal setting done every quarterly so that the kid is aware of where his current level is and how much he needs to achieve in order to reach his target.

Kumon has a reward system - Bronze level: the minimum target they have to achieve based on their level, Silver: the kid is doing worksheets a year in advance to their level, Gold: the kid is 3 years in advance to their level. The Kumon HQ will organise a ceromeny to award those on Gold level annually and the kids will receive trophy or gold medal.

I face the same problem too with my boy Gavin. He's nearly one but rarely naps during the daytime. He goes to bed by 9 am and only wakes up at 7am for breakfast. I used to worry about his overall development if he was getting enough sleep. However, i quit worrying after figuring if he is happy, alert, healthy and gaining weight, he must be one of those babies who doesn't need a lot of sleep 

Now I notice he naps a little more after swimming for 30 minutes. Hmmm.... I need to incorporate some physical activities to tire him out.

Yes, I totally agree with PY. My husband would like me to stay home to teach our younger boy (Gavin) after seeing the wonderful job I had done for the older one (Lucas) when I was a stay home mum for a year. Lucas was able to talk in sentences, write his name, alphabets and numbers and was also toilet-trained all by two and a half (within the 6 months after I stopped working). He would like me to repeat the same with Gavin who's turning 1 in late May.

However, I love my job to much to give it up  . So I'm trying my best to juggle teaching the younger old, keeping my job and supervising the older boy who has started primary school.

Hi KL,

My son was on the Shichida Method from 1 to 4 years old (2003 to 2007). The school never conducted the 65 Day math program during lesson. It is really up to the parents to carry out the program at home. The instructor would flash the number cards (dots, orderly icons, disorderly icons) on average 3 times during lesson. Also she would use the abacus to count and would encourage each kid to have a go. Then she would push upwards a number of beats quickly and ask the kids for the number.

Hello Mummies, I have been through SM program for 4 years with my older boy (7 yrs now) and have seen great results though I have never complete the 65 days math program. My boy is able to understand and pick up new things at one or two explanations. Best of all, he has a very strong memory which all teachers have commented.

Now I have another boy who's 11 mths. I try the GD's method on teaching him swimming and after 3 mths, we are seeing some result too. However, my hubby doesn't like that and has requested to put him on right-brain training program. The younger one is also enjoying the flashcards which I now use powerpoint to deliver.

As long as we give them variety and stop before they lose interest, the kids will think we are playing with them without them knowing we are actually teaching. It doesn't matter if it's SM or GD method as long as you are enjoying the learning process with your kid. Most important...don't forget to praise the kid for the right things done/right behaviour and shower with lots of love!!

Hello....I'm new to this forum having just signed up today. I checked out the website posted and it is speaking in Cantonese.