A Parent Guide to Choosing a Learning Center

Whether you are considering a preschool for your little one or an after-school program for your school-age child, choosing a learning center is an important decision for parents.

In either instance, parents want to enroll their children in a high-quality program where they will have a positive experience that makes learning fun while also laying a strong foundation for their young academic career.

So, what should you look for in a center? Factors to consider range from the philosophical – the center’s approach to learning and family engagement – to the practical, such as a center’s location, cost and hours.

Practical factors must be determined by the parent: Is the center near my house or office? How much does it cost? For working parents, are the hours aligned with work time? For stay-at-home parents, how many days/hours per week would the child attend?

Because the practical questions are disqualifiers – if you can’t afford it or get there on time, then it’s definitely not a good fit – here we will tackle the bigger, more discretionary issues, such as:

• Choosing the best approach to learning for your child
• Benefits of learning centers for both preschoolers and school-age children
• Why you should seek a supportive learning environment for your child

Let’s get started.

Approach to Learning

To begin with, consider the philosophy and/or curriculum the learning center follows. Learning philosophies range from letting children learn everything organically by allowing them to play all day to skill-based practice of specific concepts. Both can be engaging for children. The difference may lie in how much structure you and your child need or want, and what other educational activities a child participates in: Do they attend school or preschool? Do they actively read or practice numbers and writing with a parent at home?

The distinction is important because the curriculum will differ between centers. Kumon, for example, offers a math and reading program appropriate for all students from age 3 through high school. It’s appropriate for those who are struggling, those who are working ahead of grade level and all of those in between.

However, few centers would offer a full school-based curriculum, which would include science, art, etc. Learning center programs are intended to supplement what children learn at school to help them master the skills they need to succeed in all school subjects and in life beyond school.

If your child is struggling in school, you may want to ask whether the program you’re considering assists with homework or whether it follows its own program. At some, students are given an initial assessment to determine the appropriate level for them to start. An individualized approach can support the student more successfully. This is because it allows children to work at their own pace to catch up if they are behind or to move ahead of their classmates if the grade-level work is too easy for them.

Some experts believe that practicing skills until they are mastered and following a daily routine can be helpful for children with learning challenges such as ADHD, although daily routines can be supportive for everyone.

For pre-kindergarten students, there are many schools of thought about how children learn, but to be ready for kindergarten, children generally need to be able to recognize letters and know the sounds they make and know how to count. They need to be able to sit still and play nicely with their friends. They also need to hone fine motor skills so they can control a pencil and learn to write.

At Kumon centers, early learners are taught to recognize letters and numbers, and they practice that daily at a pace that’s appropriate for them. They learn how to behave in a classroom setting, as the Kumon Center mirrors some aspects of a traditional classroom. They are also taught the correct way to hold a pencil and practice writing letters and numbers.

Benefits of Learning Centers

Learning centers offer benefits beyond academics. For both early learners and school-age children, attending such a program reinforces life and social skills.

For prekindergartners, attending a learning center helps them learn to communicate and interact with people outside their immediate family. They get a preview of what kindergarten will be like in a classroom with a teacher and other children.

A parent who enrolls his or her 4-year-old in Kumon will not only see them learn their letter sounds and numbers but also see them develop a better attention span and confidence, which will serve them well in kindergarten.

School-age children who attend a center after school may have help with their homework or gain extra practice time with concepts they are studying. Additional practice can help kids stay at or ahead of grade level. That helps them academically and boosts their confidence.

Regular practice makes schoolwork much easier. When students practice concepts until they truly master them, their homework takes less time. Additionally, because kids practice daily throughout the year, they develop great study habits and discipline. And because of this consistency, they often need much less time reviewing material that’s already been covered when school resumes after a break.

Enrolling a child in the right learning center can help them be confident, disciplined and successful in school.

A Supportive Learning Environment

One of the best things a parent can do to help their child excel academically is to encourage them to solve their own problems and give them a great foundation on which to build. To do that, place your child in a program that will challenge them but not be so difficult as to frustrate them.

Kumon is a great example of how to walk that fine line because the program is tailored to each individual child. Students are assessed when they begin and placed at the appropriate level. Kumon is not based on grade levels. In math, early learners generally start between level 6A (counting objects up to 10) with the supplemental level Z (how to hold a pencil and trace lines) to 4A (number sequencing), and school-age students generally work on levels 3A (basic addition) to O (calculus). Reading levels range from level Z to level L (critical writing).

How long it takes to make that journey depends on where a student starts and how they progress. Children who need additional practice at a particular point may repeat worksheets to make sure they have mastered a skill before they move on. Parents who enroll their children in a strong program are giving them the greatest gift: what they need to be successful in school and in life. To position students for academic success, consider enrolling them in a learning center today.