Struggles with Kumon - Resolved = Kumon Lego Game

We signed our kids up for Kumon because we wanted to get them ahead in Math and Reading. It was a smart decision given my son has issues concentrating (a topic for another day), and with the pandemic turning schools virtual, he had very little in the way of actual teachings. But Kumon by its very nature is very, very, very repetitive, which has caused many struggles in our household as the kids simply do not enjoy repeating the same problems over and over again. This has resulted in many, many shouting matches as stubbornness abounds. I sought help from the Kumon instructor who suggested the use of stickers and marbles, which could be traded in for things like extra iPad time or a movie or other sorts of delayed incentives.

That worked for a while. But eventually the kids became immune to the idea as stickers, while initially fascinating, were eventually inane. It didn’t help that my busy work schedule made it difficult to reinforce. Marbles were also an interesting idea but the kids were still misbehaving. And while I could threaten to take them away, and did at times, they were still an abstract concept. Bribing iPad use or threatening the lost of the Nintendo Switch worked briefly, but again it required delayed gratification and ultimately failed.

The thing that finally helped me succeed was a game I created out of Legos. It has only been a few weeks, but I have found marked improvement in their willingness to get the Kumon done. The yelling has effectively stopped, and once more, they have found a new love for the Legos that have been sitting idly in the playroom.

For those who are interested, you can download the game instructions here.