chaircover: Hi Dami, My kids didnt do any of these courses. To add salt to injury, my kids didnt have homework in primary school until year 5 and even then homework was once every 2 weeks and it was simple things such as draw an island and put whatever you like on it. So she drew and island and put on a palm tree and a box which she labeled treasure . . . I was like why dont you draw spongebob squarepants ontit's if you are going to put on a box of treasure and then she gave me a lecture on how spongebob lives in the sea and not on an island

This is my experience and what I found. I found that kids learn better when they dont know that they are learning.

Yesterday we sat and watched seconds from disaster and also a documentary on the Kennedys and I was on hand to explain and answer any question that they had. They wont learn that in maths or English and IMO, when a child is inquisitive and intelligent, other things fall into place.

There are also hundreds of educational games on the internet such as mathletics. Last year we found a game where the kid can work out what time a plane will land in another city based on flying time, distance from the take off city and the change in time zone. To make it more interesting I brought out the globe and we were pointing out the cities on the globe.

The kid will also benefit a lot from taking them to places such as museums, car shows, cadbury world etc and also buying them books that will incite their inquisitive nature, such as the Guinness book of world records and not just getting them to read fiction. The last time we flew, when we landed, I asked the crew if my daughter could go into the cockpit to have a look and they obliged.

Basically let then learn through play and dont just throw formal education at them. We want all rounded kids and not just kids who can recite their times tables in their sleep.

Hello CC very insightful post as usual.Your perspective is a bit like my husband I guess that's the difference between Briticos and we naija born and bred .He is always telling me to calm down that she is not doing too bad for her age but will I gree No esp as the other day on NL I read a 3 yr old could write, count and read 1 to 200 in naija .Me and her nursery teacher are always arguing cos I feel she should be challenged more and he thinks she is doing just fine.

I get the point about learning through play.3 letter word spellings that I almost cry when teaching her became a breeze with a couple of fun apps on the Ipad.So I get it.But maybe its cos the way I was brought up, academics was a very serious affair.The way learning is so laid back here is kinda strange and alien to me.Your method worked for you cos I remember you celebrating with us about your son's GCSSE results . Besides he went to grammar school so you must have done something right.But dont you think some kids benefit from being challenged more.
My daughter is very inqusitive and artsy.She is really interested in art, sculpting, dancing (she is starting ballet in jan) but I feel it's because that's where her school focuses more on at the Early Years Stage.You wont believe they have not started spelling and are still on phonics at school. I was reading by 4 you know.I will take your advice though CC and ease up a lil.

You sef remember that time tables ish just remembering how the strokes of cane I chopped at 7 times tables put me off maths for life

Me I dont understand this NL spambot I cant for the life of me think of why my last post got hidden

Anyway I need the review to make an informed choice so reposting.


My egbons in this business (parenting).I need a sort of Kumon Review.Getting mixed reviews at the mo and just wanted to see if I could get a some other ones as I am just getting more confused. My daughter is 4 and I am thinking of enrolling her for Kumon (I hope this is not the word spambot is catching o) abeg NL filter or whatever its a worldwide study centre for kids .

My Sis In Law's Son attended Kumon for 3 years and she thinks it was an utter waste of money.She said the lady in her son's Kumon centre just kept recycling exercises and even when she told her that the boy needed to be challenged more there was still no improvement. Her advise was to get some Bond workbooks (we do those already for numbers, words and phonics) and continue teaching her myself. Then enrol her at KipMcGrath in Year 2 or 3 in prep for 11+.She thinks KipMcGrath is faar better even if more expensive.Another older friend echoed this same sentiments though her kids only went for a term.

A couple of other friends on the other hand gave really good reviews of Kumon.They said it helps with mental maths and cognitive reasoning. These people think that Kumon really helped their kids.And that we should give it a go.
Now am confused. So I need reviews from parents whose kids may have attended Kumon one time or the other.Thank you people.
Tgirl and RR I go vex if this one is hidden o.cos there is nothing offensive in this post