Does Anyone Have Experience with Kumon or Silvan Learning Centers?

You do realize that there is a LOT of studies that show kids that do homework have lower scores than kids that never have a bit of homework, right?

More and more schools are dropping it and instead they are having them do their work at school. I think kids need to be kids and play, have fun with their friends, and spend time with their families instead of sitting at a table and doing homework that isn't anything more than busy work. It doesn't teach them anything.

I made an appointment and Silvan showed me their plan. They were going to give her worksheets and have her sit around a table with two other kids who would be doing other worksheets. The college student had zero teaching experience. I said no.

Forcing them to do more "school" in their free time if they're already good students is possibly going to backfire and turn them against all school. They're likelier to start bucking against the real homework they do have, from school, if you require them to do more via a learning center. Please reconsider your approach here.

If you think they have too little homework, why do you think that? What's the basis for your feeling that way? Talk with their teachers. They may have what their teachers consider adequate and appropriate homework for their age, learning level and grade. Is it possible that when you were growing up, or in the area or culture where you grew up, kids were expected to do huge amounts of homework? Do you come from a family that had extremely high academic expectations and which created a lot of academic pressure that was considered normal? Back up for a moment and think about your own upbringing. As parents we often carry the assumptions of the way we were raised and use them as we parent our own kids in a different time and place where those assumptions may not work. I am all in favor of academic rigor, but it's worthwhile to talk ASAP with teachers and counselors at the school. If your kids seem bored with school because it's easy for them, and that's why you think they need more homework, the answer may instead be getting them into whatever programs there are for gifted students. And those progams do not necessarily mean more homework either.

You say they don't want to do extracurriculars but I would tell them that they must do at least one activity each. Be very clear that they get to choose those activities but they must do something that does not involve screens. It does not have to be a sport -- in the area where I live there is a lot of assumption that kids all do sports, but if your kids don't want to do a sport, that's fine. They could be doing an art class, community drama, dance, volunteering, Girl Scouts (it is never too late to join Girl Scouting; they do not have to have done it since they were little if they want to start now!), church or religious youth groups if that's your thing, music lessons or group music with other kids at "School of Rock" type studios (they exist!), Lego robotics clubs, ecology clubs (if they are in middle to high school there should be LOTS of clubs and activities they can do through school, or you can look at your county or city recreation center web sites).

Let them work with you to find what interests them--not what you think they should be doing. If they don't do what interests them it will just be mom forcing them to do things. But they should be doing something. Just not more "school" unless there's an academic need.

As for the iPhone and iPad, limit their time. Period. They have to earn any time that is not for school purposes. They use them in public spaces, not in their rooms. They have to maintain certain grades, do certain chores, whatever. Don't allow "all their time" on the devices. If they're carrying their devices everywhere they go, don't allow it unless it's needed, for instance, for them to phone you for a pickup after an event.

You want them to go to school after school because they don't do enough school? I'm confused. How about signing them up for an activity, or encouraging them to join clubs at school? Or even better, find a family activity you can all do together.

PLEASE do not sign your kids up for more than what they do at school - that would be torture for them.

If your children are doing well in school, why would you want to sign them up for more school because you don't think they are busy enough? How do you interpret that they don't have enough homework? Maybe they are responsible students and get the work done in downtime and are good planners.

If you do that you are taking a HUGE chance that you will turn them off to learning is fun and make it a chore, therefore grades can start dipping and more. This could make your children hate school and make them miserable as well. Why would you do that?

They need some sort of physical activity. Test out some extracurricular activities such as dance, martial arts, gymnastics, tennis, golf, the list goes on.

It is important to have some sort of physical activity and fun. Of course they need downtime from the electrical gadgets but don't make them do more schooling to get off electronics. Set limits on electronics and get them out for some physical activity. It is important to be physically fit as well as smart. I helps their brains and body!!

Lastly, as someone who has been in education many years, the schools look down on the "business" of tutoring. Many times Kumon/Sylvan, big business tutoring just does a lot of worksheets and brings in the $$$ vs actually teaching children. Plus, if they teach a different way than the school district teaches, you can end up with confused children who do worse in school. Many tutors are district teachers who work though the guidance counselors at the schools to be placed with children who need a tutor.

Lighten up on the extra schooling and get them moving physically.

Other than studying for a test, an occasional project or research paper or a quick worksheet to reinforce math concepts, I wish my daughter's weren't given homework. So much of it is busy work. My daughter's already get enough repetition of the conceptions in school so why should they have to do it again at home? It sounds like your daughters are in the same boat.

Enroll them in extra curricular activities. Art, ice skating, theatre, swimming etc...there are so many possibilities.

My kids' teachers hated these programs and always discouraged them.
Even so, I don't understand why you would encourage them to sit even more after they sit in school all day, especially if they are already good students. Why don't you take them hiking, biking, swimming, exploring, to museums and other places of learning? It's not healthy not to move your body. And what about serving their community, through local organizations such as Girl Scouts, or simply volunteering anywhere help is needed?
Maybe they would like to take art or music or dance or sports lessons?
Maybe you're the type of person who simply likes to sit and do paperwork all day but kids need opportunities to learn and explore and move and expand their minds and bodies.
Oh, and they also need some time to relax and rest and be with friends, I hope you're keeping that in mind as well.

We did Kumon for over about 4 years. My dd was a good student, but I hated the math program at our school - so we only did the math program. Most of the work is done at home, they have homework every day including weekends. It's a ton of work, but my dd is really good at math and can do it fast which none of the other kids ever learned (at least in our school district they focus more on theory rather than actually doing a lot of calculations)
Anyway, I'm not sure this will give them somewhere to go (usually you only go one afternoon per week)
Plus parents have to do all the grading...big time commitment!

My daughter went to Sylvan years ago. She didn't study or do homework. It was a waste of money. How are the girls doing in school? Are their grades ok? If your purpose is to provide them with more academics and if they are interested then consider a learning center.

Your post says to me you are wanting to get them involved and away from their phones, ipad? A learning center will not help with that. They'll still have time to play on electronics. I suggest that you do two things. 1) reduce the time they can use them. Make and enforce boundaries for use of electronics. 2) then introduce them to other activities. You can require that they choose an activity. Perhaps make a list of what's available or, depending on their ages, have them research. Meet together to talk about options.

Parenting is not about letting kids do what they want. It's our responsibility to teach them healthy ways to spend their time, to expose them to extra curricular activities that also teach responsibility, social skills, managing time and resources, develop interests, etc.

Do they have responsibilities at home doing chores, helping you? Sounds like the family has little structure. It's reasonable for you to expect cooperation. When your requirement is that they spend less time on electronics and more time with extra curricular activities. It is your responsibility to teach them a view of life that is broader than electronics.

It sounds like your daughters don't have a friend real close and thus don't know what to do with their time after school. Many kids are like that.
Help encourage your kids to explore. Listen to what they like to do. My youngest loves Just Dance so I'm working to find a jazz class for her. My older one has been watching the younger one play soccer and has expressed interest on and off. I finally signed her up and she loves it. Many kids are shy or just don't know what they want to do. Signing a kid up for a rec class usually is not $$ and more so short which gives them a flavor of it. If your kids aren't into athletics don't forget music and art. Craft stores have art classes.
Good luck. Apart of this will be you and your family sharing what you did as kids. Maybe you'll find one of your girls will want to try what you did. Show them options.

No.
What's your definition of extracurricular activities?
For most people it means an after school sport or dancing or taekwondo - it means socializing time - and not more school work.
If you are not happy with your kids school and don't think it's hard enough, then you see about enrolling them in a private school with a more rigorous curriculum.
Silvan is tutoring to help students who are not performing well in school - and you say your kids are good students - so a tutor isn't needed.
They don't teach MORE than the school is teaching.
And, if you don't want them spending a lot of time on iPhones or iPads - you take them away except for a few hours per day.
How old are your kids and what do you think they should be learning that they are not learning at school?
After a certain point (and it's sooner than you think) too much homework becomes busy work and it becomes unproductive.
When a kid starts hating all the school work, they shut down and are not enjoying the learning anymore.

I can only answer to Kumon. I can see that it would benefit some kids, but my son was struggling in math and needed help with what was happening in the classroom. Kumon starts off with addition. subtraction, multiplication, division and moves up from there. The kids learn how to solve problems quickly and by repetition. They have an "assignment" every night which lasts between 10-30 minutes.The parent check the students work at home, and then once or twice a week they will go to the center and hand in their work and take a test. The one downside to Kumon was alot of the solving was done in their head, and now my son struggles to show his work on his school assignments which is not what the teachers want.

I teach 4th grade. My son went to Kumon when he was in elementary. It was a complete waste of time & money. I do not recommend it at all. It is a paper pushing concept. They hand YOU the worksheets and say do them at home. My son had very little interaction with the tutors.

I do recommend Sylvan. I have had students attend their tutoring and I have seen progress with those students.

Mathnasium is fantastic! It is hands-on learning including many physical games. I think that may meet your needs for what you are looking for. Mathnasium is also an extension for math not just tutoring.

I'll just reinforce what others have said, namely that they probably have a grade-appropriate amount of homework and they will do better if you find other activities for them to do outside of the home. Perhaps they can join friends who do music/theatre/dance, a sport, Tae Kwon Do, a craft, robotics, Girl Scouts, walking in the woods, story-writing, discussing books, making home-videos, a cooking club ... anything so they are engaging another part of their brain and active. If you get them to try out some activities, you will probably find it easier than you thought to establish a firm limit on screen use and everyone will be happier.

I do understand that it's hard to break the screen habit, and ferrying kids here and there can get tiring. Activities can get expensive, too. The results are really worth it, though. They can establish a variety of social groups and develop abilities they never thought they have. Current American society really does emphasize being 'well-rounded' (abilities besides academics), so you will do them a favor on many levels if you work with them to find some other activities for them to do. Good luck!

Kumon and Sylvan are really for students who are struggling in school. I'm not sure that's going to be the most helpful option in your case.

If your concern is mostly centered around the IPhone or IPad (or other electronics), you could try simply monitoring the amount of time they spend on them. My 9 year old definitely needs to be limited. He could spend hours on those things if we let him. When we take them away, he will often go outside and play basketball or lightsaber fight with his brother. He finds other things to do.

I do not think you are at all alone with that concern. So if you haven't tried simply putting time limits on the devices, you might start there. If that hasn't worked, you might try finding activities outside the home.

Have you considered signing them up for extra-curricular activities? Lots of kids play sports - soccer, baseball/softball, basketball, tennis, swimming, gymnastics. If your kids aren't into sports, you could look into classes through the YMCA or Park District. Ours have music and art classes. There's always martial arts. Maybe they would like to try Scouting.

You might need to explore some other options, but if they are already doing well in school, I would try to find something else. It would help make them more well rounded and broaden their horizons.

Hi S.,

I agree with Momma11 and Gidget below that Kumon and Silivan centers are more catered for students that need extra help with work. I think that maybe your children might need more challenges from school. Don't get me wrong, these learning centers definitely have their perks. My after-school students are in my program since most parents can't pick up their students until after 6pm. During this time we complete their homework for the first half and the second half we work on extra worksheets. We alternate between reading, math and writing to keep the students engaged in the material and above par when compared to their classmates. The best website I've come across for helping me with these supplemental worksheets is Beestar. If I were you I would take a look at the GT section. To me it sounds more like they may need to be more interested in the subject. Playing is great too but I think that sometimes we don't connect the dots between play and education if we're only doing the minimum as kids.