At what age did your child start kumon?

[Anonymous]

Some prefer math over swimming as a "life saving" skill in the 21st century. Do you agree?

[Anonymous]

The definition of "life-saving" is in the eye (s) of the beholder.

...by Turnkey

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some prefer math over swimming as a "life saving" skill in the 21st century. Do you agree?

Learning to swim at 5 - life saving. Learning advanced math for a 5 yr old...not so life-saving. I really don't get your argument. Yes, we all know the importance of learning math, but does a K need to know how to add/subtract? You don't think a kid can get to AP Calc in HS without having to take kumon or knowing how to add by K? A lot the bright kids will reach advanced math in HS without having had kumon. It really does happen.

[Anonymous]

Learning to swim at 5 - life saving. Learning advanced math for a 5 yr old...not so life-saving. I really don't get your argument. Yes, we all know the importance of learning math, but does a K need to know how to add/subtract? You don't think a kid can get to AP Calc in HS without having to take kumon or knowing how to add by K? A lot the bright kids will reach advanced math in HS without having had kumon. It really does happen.

Doing kumon math exercises with parents at 4 and 5 years of age for fun and engagement has absolutely nothing to do with AP Calculus, bright kids or advanced math. The latter issues are part of your imagination. Why don't you leave other families alone who enjoy kumon math with their young children without digressing to purely irrelevant matters of AP Calculus and bright or dull kids?

I enjoy playing soccer with my 4 and 5 year-old on a team and in the backyard (as with kumon). Division 1 soccer at Harvard, the US soccer olympic team and the World Cup are purely irrelevant matters (as for kumon) conjured up in your imagination for argument. No one here is making those imagined arguments. Some posters simply enjoy kumon or soccer with their kids...and some posters don't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Learning to swim at 5 - life saving. Learning advanced math for a 5 yr old...not so life-saving. I really don't get your argument. Yes, we all know the importance of learning math, but does a K need to know how to add/subtract? You don't think a kid can get to AP Calc in HS without having to take kumon or knowing how to add by K? A lot the bright kids will reach advanced math in HS without having had kumon. It really does happen.

Doing kumon math exercises with parents at 4 and 5 years of age for fun and engagement has absolutely nothing to do with AP Calculus, bright kids or advanced math. The latter issues are part of your imagination. Why don't you leave other families alone who enjoy kumon math with their young children without digressing to purely irrelevant matters of AP Calculus and bright or dull kids?

I enjoy playing soccer with my 4 and 5 year-old on a team and in the backyard (as with kumon). Division 1 soccer at Harvard, the US soccer olympic team and the World Cup are purely irrelevant matters (as for kumon) conjured up in your imagination for argument. No one here is making those imagined arguments. Some posters simply enjoy kumon or soccer with their kids...and some posters don't.

OK, but you (I assume it was you) were the one that posted math skills were life saving so I assumed it was because you thought it was important to be in advanced math in HS - like it would lead to some great job that would be a life saver or something.

I really don't care if you and your kid enjoy kumon together. I was simply addressing your ridiculous argument about learning life-saving skills.

[Anonymous]

Doing kumon math exercises with parents at 4 and 5 years of age for fun and engagement has absolutely nothing to do with AP Calculus, bright kids or advanced math. The latter issues are part of your imagination. Why don't you leave other families alone who enjoy kumon math with their young children without digressing to purely irrelevant matters of AP Calculus and bright or dull kids?

I enjoy playing soccer with my 4 and 5 year-old on a team and in the backyard (as with kumon). Division 1 soccer at Harvard, the US soccer olympic team and the World Cup are purely irrelevant matters (as for kumon) conjured up in your imagination for argument. No one here is making those imagined arguments. Some posters simply enjoy kumon or soccer with their kids...and some posters don't.

I agree. There are so many suspicious and paranoid posters who spend their idle time conjuring up motivations for why parents play with their kids, do kumon with their kids, play soccer, lacrosse, boxing, wrestling, tennis and any sport with their young kids, read to their kids, make their kids learn an instrument or take music (even if their kids do not like to do so), go to Church with their kids, take their kids to museums, teach their kids to write, teach their kids to fish, teach their elementary school kids algebra and physics, teach their kids how to play chess, teach their elementary kids Latin, Greek, Yiddish, Yoruba, French, Swahili, geometry, statistics and the like. It seems some posters presume to know what we should expose 4 and 5 year-olds to. For some, it is not kumon style math (not made in America).

[Anonymous]

Why do you keep answering your own posts?

[Anonymous]

OK, but you (I assume it was you) were the one that posted math skills were life saving so I assumed it was because you thought it was important to be in advanced math in HS - like it would lead to some great job that would be a life saver or something.

I really don't care if you and your kid enjoy kumon together. I was simply addressing your ridiculous argument about learning life-saving skills.

You have just provided the evidence base for your idle suspicions and paranoia with all your speculative wrong assumptions. This is a teaching moment. It is ok for families who prefer kumon math exercises and activities with their children even if you don't. Leave it there. AP Calculus, bright and dull kids, HGC are irrelevant assumptions on your part...As parents you enjoy puzzles and games with their children (and not some assumed motivated lure of future entry into the Guinness World Record Annals/Book).

[Anonymous]

Why do you keep answering your own posts?

Yet another assumption.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

OK, but you (I assume it was you) were the one that posted math skills were life saving so I assumed it was because you thought it was important to be in advanced math in HS - like it would lead to some great job that would be a life saver or something.

I really don't care if you and your kid enjoy kumon together. I was simply addressing your ridiculous argument about learning life-saving skills.

You have just provided the evidence base for your idle suspicions and paranoia with all your speculative wrong assumptions. This is a teaching moment. It is ok for families who prefer kumon math exercises and activities with their children even if you don't. Leave it there. AP Calculus, bright and dull kids, HGC are irrelevant assumptions on your part...As parents you enjoy puzzles and games with their children (and not some assumed motivated lure of future entry into the Guinness World Record Annals/Book).

OMG... you need help. It's bordering on being sanctimonious, and ridiculous. Not sure what you think is a "teaching moment" here. Yes, I know there are parents that enjoy doing certain things with their kids. That is not what I was arguing about. As I said, I don't care you like doing kumon with your kid. Why do you keep harping on it? I think *you* need to leave it there.

[Anonymous]

What are you arguing about? ... that some poster likes kumon math activities with her children? ....math is not a life-saving skill for the 21st century student but swimming is? ...the definition of life-saving (literal or figurative)?

Let's not make any assumptions? What are you arguing about (to use your own words)?

[Anonymous]

Does the poster even know what she is arguing about (making a big fuss over)?

[Anonymous]

Why? Just why?

Your son will go to elementary school to learn reading, writing, math etc. He does not need to know those things BEFORE he goes. He needs to play and relax now. This is the only time in his life, during which he will be able to do that. Play. Grow. Without pressure. He will not have this chance once he starts school, so let him have it now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

This area is insane. Let your little kids be kids, for God's sake. This is pathetic.

I agree. What has happened to simply signing your kids up for year round club swimming with club soccer, basketball and lacrosse for supplementary treats.

Ha ha!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why? Just why?

Your son will go to elementary school to learn reading, writing, math etc. He does not need to know those things BEFORE he goes. He needs to play and relax now. This is the only time in his life, during which he will be able to do that. Play. Grow. Without pressure. He will not have this chance once he starts school, so let him have it now.

True. Kids are so creative and amazing when they are allowed to play and use their imagination. Play based pre schools are the best.