Page 3 | KUMON - Anyone started from 2.5 years old?

Mummyof2blueeyedcuties · 2025-06-28T15:14:39+00:00

Hi all, has anyone got any experience of KUMON from 2.5 years old? I can see many starting from 3-4 but wondered if it’s worthwhile 2.5? Thank you

Readyforseptember · 09/08/2025 15:52

Muu9 · 09/08/2025 15:33

Watching numberblocks would be better

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_bRavc-qerkEyGo-gkM9uOrg-BoNeRDU&si=gIYzPFdfk-7bOUQQ

Then when she's older, if she's showing strength in maths, look at Beast Academy.

Another option would be the preschool math at home book by Kate Snow

A 2.5 year old won't even be able to write or read, much less do both independently while also learning and practicing math independently, which is what a Kumon center would require

The 2.5 year old wouldn't jump straight into maths worksheets like that though. It would start off by tracing shapes, simple maze type things to get control and dexterity.

I had a DC doing Kumon at 3 years old. Her much older sister was doing it and she showed interest and wanted to be like her sister, and we had to be at the kumon centre regardless. She is currently several years ahead of her age group in the very specific topics that Kumon have taught her. There are many topics that are in the UK curriculum that aren't covered so there is no issue in being bored at school.

Muu9 · 09/08/2025 17:02

Readyforseptember · 09/08/2025 15:52

The 2.5 year old wouldn't jump straight into maths worksheets like that though. It would start off by tracing shapes, simple maze type things to get control and dexterity.

I had a DC doing Kumon at 3 years old. Her much older sister was doing it and she showed interest and wanted to be like her sister, and we had to be at the kumon centre regardless. She is currently several years ahead of her age group in the very specific topics that Kumon have taught her. There are many topics that are in the UK curriculum that aren't covered so there is no issue in being bored at school.

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Well then, what's the point of paying God knows how much per month for a child to do what could be done with some busy books at home? In fact, Kumon actually sells such workbooks for far, far less than the cost of a month. On that note, I have heard good things about the critical thinking company's books:

https://www.criticalthinking.com/building-thinking-skills-beginning-1.html

https://www.criticalthinking.com/mathematical-reasoning-beginning-1.html

sociallydistained · 09/08/2025 17:23

HeadingOutForJog · 28/06/2025 17:58

My biggest parenting regret is making my child do Kumon (age 9).

If you want your child to hate maths forevermore because they are forced to do boring, repetitive worksheets again and again and again, then go ahead and enrol them for Kumon.

There are much more inspiring methods of encouraging a love of maths.

2.5 year olds should be learning in a creative and fun way. Kumon is about as far away from inspiring, creative and fun as you can get!

Fully agree with this as a nanny for children who had to take them to Kumon for years, mark the books and deal with the constant melt downs and emotional stress they went through the entire time. It does not foster a love of Maths!
I'd never make my son do it.

Hihosilver123 · 09/08/2025 18:03

As a primary teacher, there’s many an occasion when I teach something, and a Kumon child pipes up ‘at Kumon we do it like this’. When I ask them to explain their method they have no idea as it’s just a formula and they don’t have the conceptual understanding.

Honestly, don’t waste your money.

nksw · 09/08/2025 20:16

I was a Kumon child, and as a previous poster mentioned, it never explains 'why'. I breezed through GCSEs (A*) and then came completely unstuck at A Level as I had no understanding of the fundamentals. I'd only learnt to use formula and 'methods' and not why they worked.

Edited to add - it did give me a lot of confidence in maths at a young age but I did also resent the repetitive worksheets and it did cause a lot of friction in our household.