Much has been written about holistic approaches to the development of a child. They say the most effective methods can simultaneously address the physical, emotional, relational, and intellectual aspects of a child’s life.
In Kumon, there are a number of ways we help a child grow as an achiever holistically. One of the main activities that Kumon Instructors do regularly is to observe each student closely, consider his current abilities, understand what abilities need to be developed next, and create action plans in order to pursue his potential. But how has the Kumon program as a whole inspired these developments? Let’s learn from parents and students who made this journey their own.
Character Building
“If I had free time during a school day, I would start doing my worksheets since I know I would be busy with other school work for the next few days,” shares Nicole Alexis Tan. She credits Kumon for significant time-management skills that have allowed her to excel even after she had earned a degree in Management and a minor in Marketing.
More than just the intellectual aspects of learning through Kumon, the program equipped her with a substantial amount of discipline. “[Kumon] has allowed me to allocate my time well and optimize my work to finish at a shorter and faster time. I can find easier ways to do things and I can prioritize what to do first.”
Pushing Through Challenges
If you asked a Kumon student if they had encountered difficult moments during their program, odds are they will reply with a definitive “Yes” – whether it will come in the form of a shy nod, or a very enthusiastic proclamation of the word. When Layza Belle de Jesus approached her parents, asking to be enrolled in the program, they had to come to an agreement first: “If you start Kumon, you have to finish the entire program. No quitting, okay?”
Layza’s journey began with a promise to never quit and it continued even after she had completed both the Math and Reading Program at the age of 13.
“We were very pleased to see that she didn’t just want to learn how to do it, but even so, she wanted to know more of the idea behind how to do it. We became very proud of her as we saw the results of her Kumon study in her academics,” Ms. Mia de Jesus stated as she divulged her daughter’s story of perseverance. “Now she has definitely learned more than math and reading – she has also learned from her experience in committing mistakes, completing both programs and achieving more than she expected.”
For them, it wasn’t just a matter of achieving excellence, but acquiring new skills through hard work and determination.
Rocketing Past Norms
James Ferrer was three years old when he was enrolled in the program to feed his curiosity. After this, his parents had observed many changes in his overall character and habits. Not only did it build upon his time management skills, it also allowed him to meet new friends in different schools and places.
“He knows when to do his homework even when there is no school. He is independent and responsible enough which is why he still has time to play and enjoy with his friends,” they commented.
James was also eager to share how Kumon had made his school life more vibrant. “Since I am an advanced student in the Kumon Math Program, my classmates noticed my skills and they would often ask me to help them understand our lessons in school.”
A Solid Foundation for Holistic Development
Kumon Instructors know not only to nurture children and their respective abilities, but also to understand the limitless possibilities beyond it all. There will be several life skills that the child will earn as he grows intellectually in Kumon. By the end of the day, turning a child into an achiever is part of a bigger end goal: to become a well-rounded individual with unlimited potential.